Thief of Hearts:

Simone’s Notes:

In sociology, seduction, also called inveigling, is the process of deliberately enticing a person to engage in some sort of behavior, frequently sexual in nature. The term may have a positive or negative connotation. Famous seducers from history include Cleopatra, Giacomo Casanova, and the character Don Juan. Seduction involves temptation and enticement, often sexual in nature, to attract or influence the behavior of another. Traditionally, the word implied leading someone astray, as when a woman lured a man into a sexual relationship. In contemporary usage, seduction is frequently used more broadly as a synonym for the act of charming someone—male or female—by an appeal to the senses. The seducing agent may even be nonhuman, such as music or food. Seduction is a popular motif in legend and literature. According to tradition, the biblical Eve was a classical seductress who enticed Adam to eat the forbidden fruit; the Sirens of Greek myth lured sailors to their death by utilizing symbolically feminine wile; and Cleopatra beguiled both Julius Caesar and Marc Antony. Famous male seducers, their names synonymous with sexual allure, range from Casanova to James Bond.

Colonel Oliver Mayfair seemed to have it all. Looks, great friends, power, the right connections, nice house, great loving family, good amount of wealth, and great life. Sure, it all looked perfect and rosy for him on the outside. However, Oliver had one dark problem. He had a girlfriend named Donna Mitchell. She had a serious drinking problem. Alcohol was her second love next to Oliver. It wasn’t a real problem at first. But over the five years that they were together, her drinking grew worse and worse. She was always late for important events. Donna four jobs because of her boozy ways. The woman was always out late due to her drinking. Her mood swings and forgetfulness drove the factors all in even more. Oliver’s patience with Donna was slowly dying away each day. He tried to get her help many times, but it would all just fall through and end up being pointless. Donna constantly swore up and down that she would change. But, that just turned out to be lies. Oliver was now at his wit’s end.

It started to show this evening at the Officer’s Club during the furher’s birthday. Mayfair just leaned up against the wall near the entry staring down into his club soda. Mustang happened to look up and notice Oliver looking pretty down. Curiosity came over him quickly.

“Darling?” a voice asked the major general. Roy looked down quickly. Daphine was standing close to his side. She had a glass of champagne in her perfectly treated hands. Roy looked at her slightly confused.

“Yes Daphine?” he asked. The nurse headed him the glass.

“Did you want a drink?” she asked him. Mustang paused for a moment, then shook his head.

“No thanks,” he said. “There is something I need to take care of first.” Daphine went quiet after that.

“Okay…” she said at last. Then, Mustang headed over to Oliver. The colonel slowly looked up when he noticed that the major general was approaching him. His face went really pale. He held his glass either tighter. Mustang looked up him confused.

“Mayfair,” Roy addressed him. “What is the problem?” Oliver sighed aloud. He lowered his drink slowly. The man looked away worried. Mustang just waited.

“Come on, Mayfair,” he insisted. “You can tell me.” Oliver swallowed hard as looked around nervously. He leaned in close to Roy’s ear.

“Not here!” he whispered sharply. Mustang was understanding.

“Fair enough,” he replied. Then the men headed outside. Daphine watched them in slight curiosity. “Wonder where they’re heading off?” she thought. The nurse just shrugged and went to look for her friends.

The men came all the way to the garden. The outside of the officer’s club was real quiet compared to the festive inside. The soldiers walked over to the cupid fountain near the entry. Oliver sat down on the edge.

“Okay,” Mustang spoke up. “What is this all about? Why are you so upset for?” Oliver was really pale now. He couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“It’s Donna!” he blurted out loud. Mustang looked slightly confused.

“I don’t think I follow…” he replied. Oliver drew in a deep breath.

“Donna is my girlfriend,” the man went on. “For years now, she has had a drinking problem. She keeps saying that she’ll change, but it’s always the same thing. It wasn’t so bad the first time. But over time, it got worse and worse. I tried to be there for her. But now, my hope for Donna getting better is fading away. I just don’t know what to do for her anymore!” Mustang listened to the whole story in silence.

“So do you plan to leave her or not?” he asked at last. Oliver thought about that for a moment.

“I don’t really know,” he answered at last. “I still love her, but I don’t love her behavior.” At that moment, Donna was slowly creeping into the garden to get into the birthday party. She was not late because of drinking for a change. She was even dressed in her best tonight. Little black dress, black velvet slick pumps, gold heart chain necklace, golden bracelets, and matching little black purse. The woman decided to try and impress her boyfriend tonight. But sadly, the effort would be rendered meaningless. Donna was about to go into the building when she noticed that Oliver was talking to Mustang near the fountain. She was slightly confused. “Hm?” the WAG thought. “What is he talking to Roy about?” Donna quietly walked over to the bushes to listen in. The conversation was a bitter one.

“So what are you going to do?” Roy asked Oliver. The colonel sighed aloud.

“I don’t know,” he replied. “But if Donna keeps up her drinking, I’m just going have to leave her. I just can’t take it anymore with her drinking problem.” Donna froze up in deep misery. It didn’t hit her until just now. Her drinking was driving the love of her life away. She had tried to get help before, but it failed. Donna felt small and useless now. She rose to her ran and turned running away.

Above, Edward Elric had been watching the whole thing. A wicked smile came across his face. The incubus developed a new taste. He now preyed on vulnerable women. Edward targeted abused and depressed women to satisfy his growing hunger. But he wouldn’t kill, mind you. The alchemist would seduce them and turned them into succubi. “It’s helping them to pay back for the men that used and abused them,” he justified. “They deserve better.” Tonight, Edward had his greedy eyes on Donna. He knew the perfect tool as bait. “This’ll be easy!” he thought. Then, the monster followed after his prey. After another corner, Helena was watching. She was in great worry for Donna. “I have to help her before she becomes fallen!” the third-year student thought. However, she had a small problem. Helena didn’t have her field license yet. Shane kept telling all of the third-year students to hurry up and take their field tests so that they help combat against Minami and the growing Red Jasmine virus. Helena just pussy-footed around until now. There was only one way that she could help Donna.

 

“You want to take your field test now?” Mother Superior asked the student.

“Yes, ma’am!” Helena said in rush.

“But the testing is closed for the day,” the headmistress replied. “You’ll have to get it in the morning!”

“There’s no time!” Helena cried. “Edward is going to snare an alcoholic woman named Donna while she’s done! If I don’t do something quit, she’ll be a succubus by morning! And besides, you need all of the help that you can get with this growing war! So, please let take the field test tonight! I’m begging you!” Mother Superior considered her options.

“I can’t give you the test tonight,” she replied. “But, I’ll give you a pre-test with Donna. If you do right, you’ll be ready to take the test in the morning!” Helena was relived.

“Thanks, ma’am!” she said bowing. “I won’t let you down!”

“Good,” Mother Superior replied. Then she reached into her desk and pulled out an emergency pass.

“Here,” she said. “You’ll will use this as your fail safe.” Helena took it quickly. She bowed again.

“Thank you ma’am!” she said again. Then, Helena hurried right out of the office. Mother Superior sat at her desk and drew out another cigarette from her golden case. She lit up and took a puff. Helena was too right! She needed all of the help that she could get this time.

 

Donna wandered around the city in crying. Oliver had lost faith in her. He had become just like everyone else in her life. Her mother was never really around in her life. Her father left her and mother days before Donna was born. Donna didn’t really have many friends. The ones that she did have either abandoned her or led her to drink even more. Her teachers in school looked down upon her. Now, the man of her dreams had given up on her at long last. Donna now had nothing to live for. Her tears became heavier and heavier. After walking a few blocks, the WAG heard something snap under her feet. She nearly fell over because of it. Donna tried to stand up straight and look down to see what the problem was. Her right heel of her shoe broke. Now Donna was in even more sorrow. First her colonel boyfriend had lost hope in her. Now, she broke her expensive shoe. The WAG was whimpering in sorrow.

“Oh!” she cried out. “Can this night get any worse?!?” So, she took off her shoes, rose to her feet, and continued down the street in move tears. She was walking past a close diner when she heard someone say, “Psst,” to her. The WAG looked up quickly to see who it was. Edward was peeking his head out the open door of the dark and closed diner. He pretended to look concerned and sympathetic to her.

“Aw,” he said to her. “What is the matter? Why is a pretty woman like you wandering the streets out here late at night?” Donna looked at him slightly confused.

“Who are you? *Sniff*” she asked. “And where did you come from? I’ve never seen you before.” The alchemist just lightly shrugged.

“I was just cleaning up,” Edward lied. “Then I looked up and noticed that you were in a sad wreck. So I opened the door to check on you. Want to come in?” Donna was really surprised. This was the first time in years that someone was actually sympathetic to her. She could barely speak at all. The woman just nodded instead. Edward smirked to himself in his head. “This is too easy!” he thought. Then, he held the door open wide. Donna walked right through. Edward shut the glass door behind them.

Helena had followed behind. She came invisibly to the window and peeked in. Donna was sitting down at the bar. It didn’t take long for the third-year student to figure out what was going to happen next. “He’s going to get her drunk and sleep with her!” she thought. “Then she feel guilty and confront Oliver. He’ll dump her and Edward will swoop in and made her into a succubus.” Helena thought over her training. Then, a idea hit her. It would take a few hours, but it was worth a shot. “I just hope I have enough power to pull it off!” she thought. Helena kept on watching.

Edward walked over to a crying Donna. “You want a drink while we talk?” he asked. The woman didn’t seem comfortable at that question at the moment.

“Oh no!” she said quickly. “That’s what got me into trouble in the first place.”

“Aw come on,” Edward insisted. “One little drink couldn’t hurt.” Donna thought about that for a moment. She was desperate to take the pain away now at this point. The WAG nodded with more tears.

“Okay,” she whimpered out. Edward smiled at her kindly.

“I knew you would,” he mumbled to her under his breath. Then, he pulled out a shot glass, opened the bottle of brandy, poured it into the glass, and handed it the depressed woman. Donna took the glass and drank up. The alcohol was so sweet tonight. Donna looked up at him crushed. Edward kept smiling at her kindly.

“There you see?” he asked. “You’re looking better already!” Donna tried to smile as she nodded.

“Now,” Edward said. “So what is the problem, pretty lady?” The WAG tried not to cry.

“It’s my boyfriend!” she welled out. Edward listened in intrigue.

“Oh?” he asked her. “Go on.” He poured Donna another drink. She drank it quickly. She sniffled and tried to fight back the tears.

“He might leave me!” she blurted out. Edward pretended to look surprised.

“What?!?” he asked in shock. “Why would he want to leave you?” He poured her another drink. One would think that since her drinking had gotten her in trouble before, that Donna would stop and walk away, right? Unfortunately, Donna was too sad to think straight. She just took the brandy and drank it again.

“I drink too much!” she whimpered out. Edward looked at her concerned as he poured her another drink. Donna drank it up quickly.

“He and I were so happy at first!” she went on. “But as the years wore out, I kept drinking more and more.” Edward poured out the first bottle for her and Donna drank that right up.

“He’s always been there for me,” she sobbed. “Now he’s just going to quit and leave me altogether!” Donna dropped her head and cried. Edward turned to the liquor cabinet to pull out more booze. He pulled out a fresh bottle of vodka and opened it up. The monster then poured her another glass. Ed lightly tapped Donna’s arm with the glass. The WAG looked up and drank up.

“I really do love him!” she was beginning to slur out. “He’s the only man that paid any attention to little old pathetic me!”

“I don’t blame him!” Edward agreed as he poured her more vodka. Donna drank that one right up.

“He’s so good to me!” she said starting to feel the effects. “Oliver is the sweetest man ever! I would die or go crazy if I left! He is the only person in the world who loves me!”

“I’m sure he is!” Edward replied as he finished pouring the vodka in her glass. Donna drank it right up. This pattern went on for hours overnight. Donna just kept drinking and drinking. Edward just kept pouring more and more booze into her glass. Helena watched and waited. She couldn’t rush in and save the day just yet. Timing was really important to this plan. At long last, Donna passed out on the counter. Edward paused and looked up with another bottle of booze in his hand.

“Donna?” he asked. There was no answer. He quietly walked over to her.

“Donna?” he asked again. Still no answer. The alchemist tried to shake his prey awake. She still didn’t budge. The monster smirked coldly to himself. “Perfect!” he thought in malice. Then, he came around to her side, lightly picked her up, and dragged her out the back way of the diner. Helena knew that was her cue. She followed after them quickly.

In the morning, Donna woke up alone with a huge hangover. “Damn it!” she thought. “I was really hammered from last night!” But then, something caught her eye. This… wasn’t her and Oliver’s room at all! Sure, she was used to waking up in strange places after heavy-drinking. But never like this! That wasn’t the only shocker however. She nervously looked down at herself and found… that she wasn’t dressed at all. Fear took over her quickly. “Oh no!” she thought in worry. “I did it again! Oliver’s going to leave me for sure this time!” Donna broke down into heavy tears. She had blown it! This was going to be the last straw in their relationship. Oliver was really going to leave and there was nothing she could do to change his mind otherwise. What could she do now?

“Psst!” she heard someone say all of a sudden. The WAG quickly looked up at the door and saw Helena standing before her. The third-year student was dressed up like a cleaning lady. This was part of her plan. Donna looked at her confused. The “cleaning lady” just smiled at her.

“Just here to do the cleaning!” she said. Donna stared at her blankly for a moment. Then, it sank into her pretty messed up/distressed head.

“Oh!” she said. “Go on. I don’t mind.”

“Thanks!” the maid called. Then, she came in and got to work. Helena waited a few seconds before she could speak to the poor woman.

“Miss?” the maid asked her. Donna looked up at her again in silence.

“You seem down about something,” Helena spoke up causally. “Is there something wrong?” Donna tried her best not to cry again. She looked away in sorrow. The maid set down her cleaning supplies and sat down on the bed. She turned Donna’s face to her. The WAG’s face was filled with tears. The maid felt truly sorry for her.

“Let me guess,” she said. “Boyfriend troubles?” Donna nodded.

“Want to talk about it?” the maid asked. There was a long silence. More tears began to form in Donna’s heavy brown eyes.

“Okay,” she whimpered out. She went into detail about her past, drinking problem, her relationship with Donna, last night, and how her life was over now. Helena just smiled at her out of sympathy. She lightly touched the WAG’s hand.

“Aw, there, there,” Helena replied. “There is still a chance for you,” Donna looked at her confused.

“How can there be?” she asked. “Oliver is on his straw with me and I blew it!” The maid just kept smiling at her kindly. She lightly grasped Donna other hand.

“I get the feeling,” Helena said softly to her. “That if you truly repent and get help for real this time, Oliver will take you back with open arms.” Donna began to look a little hopeful now.

“You really mean it?” she asked. The maid nodded.

“I truly mean it!” she said confidently.

“But what if I this up?” the WAG asked.

“What if you don’t?” Helena asked. Donna thought about it for a moment. The maid watched her silence. Then a little smile came across her face. Helena began to smile as well.

“There, you see!” she said aloud. “You can do it! Now get dressed and save your relationship!”

“Yeah!” Donna replied happily. Then she got out of bed and did so. Helena smiled to herself. Part one of the plan was finished. Now, to act on part two. But first, she had to finish “cleaning” to make it look believable. That was really easy to do however. Within seconds, Helena was finished. She left the hotel room quietly. Now to act on part two of the plan.

Helena went back to Mayfair apartment. She found Oliver sleeping soundly as she predicted. The third-year student quietly moved into his bedroom and stood over the sleeping man. She drew in a deep breath. “I hope this works!” she thought. Then, Helena held out her hand over Oliver and shut her eyes tightly. She began chanting softly. A pale light formed around her small body. She disappointed within seconds.

 

[In Oliver’s Dream]

Oliver was sitting alone in a next to dead garden. He had tears in his eyes. He was staring at the Zen pond with the waterfall running on the water. The flowers were slowly wilting away. The grass was cold and brown. The trees all around had lost almost all of their leaves. Despite the garden being pretty warm, the whole place looked in a cross between autumn and winter. Helena figured out where this place was. She was glad to be just in time to set things right. Helena quietly walked over to the man. Oliver happened to look up and see the deity moving closer. He looked slightly lost.

“Are you the new caretaker?” he asked her when she was just inches from him. Helena was slightly confused at first. She just stared at him blankly for a while. But then, she remembered that she had to play along to keep him from getting suspicious about her.

“Oh yes!” Helena said quickly. “Yes I am!”

“Oh,” Oliver said softly. Helena watched him.

“May I sit down?” she asked. The colonel looked away.

“Sure, do as you like!” he replied sadly. Helena did so gracefully. Both sat in silence and view the slowly dying view.

“I met her here,” Oliver said aloud. The deity turned to him slightly confused.

“Hm?” she asked. The colonel just shook his head.

“No, no,” he said. “It was nothing.”

“No,” Helena insisted. “Go on. I’m curious. You met who here?” Oliver was hesitant at first. He wasn’t sure if he could share his problems with a complete stranger. But then, he drew in a deep breath.

“Donna,” he replied uneasily. Helena was quiet at first.

“Donna?” she asked. “Is she your girlfriend?”

“Ex, soon!” the colonel answered. The deity looked confused.

“What do you mean?” she asked. The man just shrugged.

“She left me down again last night,” he replied.

“Oh no!” Helena gasped. “What did she do?”

“She didn’t show up to the furher’s birthday party with me last night?” he asked. Helena lightly leaned in close. She pretended to look interested.

“Pardon me for intruding,” she said. “But why are you leaving her just because of that?” Oliver looked at her nervously. He didn’t know if he should tell her or not. Helena just shook her head.

“Oh I’m terribly sorry!” she exclaimed. “Am I being rude? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to!” Oliver quickly held up his hand to stop her.

“No, no!” he exclaimed. “It’s okay. I’ll tell you.” Then, the colonel went into detail about Donna’s drinking problem and how it ruined their relationship. Helena noticed that he had tears in his eyes as he spoke. She pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to him to wipe away the tears. Oliver did so in silence.

“What should I do?” he asked. Helena pretended to think about that for a moment.

“You seem to still love Donna,” she stated. The colonel nodded.

“Yes,” he replied. “But I don’t love her drinking. It’s gotten out of hand now. I just can’t help her anymore. I don’t want to leave her, but she is driving me away. I don’t see any other way to save our relationship.” Helena lightly touched him on the shoulder.

“There is still hope,” she said. “Donna has started to turn herself around. But she can’t do it alone. She needs your help to support her and push her through the hard times.” Oliver looked skeptical at first.

“Are you sure?” he asked. “How can you be sure she won’t fail like all of the others?”

“Because,” Helena replied. “She’s hit rock-bottom this time and she doesn’t want to lose you. Donna is going to make a full recovery. But that’s only if you stay with her.” The colonel thought about that for a moment. Then, he put his hand on Helena’s.

“Okay!” he breathed out. “I’ll give Donna another chance! But if she doesn’t pull through this time, I’m leaving her.” The deity smiled at him richly.

“Good man!” she said happily. “I know your relationship will be much stronger because of it!”

[End of Dream]

 

Oliver awoke to find Donna sitting on his bed. She had a sad look in her eyes. Her boyfriend had a neutral look on his face.

“Okay,” he said flatly. “What did you get up to last night?” Donna bit her lip nervously.

“I came to the party last night,” she began to confess. “But when I overheard talking to Mustang about leaving me because of my drinking, I left in tears. I went and got myself drunk without thinking. I woke up alone in a hotel room naked in bed. And this morning I realized, I didn’t want to lose you! You’re all I have now! Everyone else has left. Dad, mom, by false friends. I just can’t afford to lose you too.” The WAG tried to fight back her tears. She was just so sick of crying now. Oliver kept looking at her.

“And?” he asked. Donna crawled over to her boyfriend.

“I signed up for Dr. Howard’s addiction class to get help,” she summarized. “I even picked some AA books.” Oliver didn’t say anything, but he just held her to his strong body.

“Good girl,” he said to her. “Good girl!” Their relationship was saved from destruction. And Donna was save from joining the fallen. Helena smiled at her work and disappointed back to Aizen Myo-o Academy.

“Well,” Helena asked Mother Superior when made it to her office. “How did I do?” The headmistress smiled at her. Then she drew her a testing pass. Helena looked at Mother Superior with big eyes of happy surprise. The headmistress looked at her watch.

“Better hurry,” she said. “Testing starts in twenty-five minutes!” The third-year student took the pass in happy victory. She had won. Helena had actually won!

“Oh thank you, ma’am!” she said aloud. Mother Superior just shrugged.

“Hey,” she said. “You saved Donna and her relationship from Edward. You’re ready for the test. Now go on and take your field test so we can have more help put an end to this dark harvest. We need all of the help we can get this year!”

“Oh right!” Helena replied. Then she bowed and hurried out to the office. Mother Superior just sat back in her chair and lit another cigarette. The academy needed all of the help they get this time! What ever happened to it being so simple?