(Untitled)

[makes_it_rain]

It is New Years'. Maes doesn't know that. It is a day for new beginnings. He doesn't know that, either.

What he does know is that some time has passed since he'd last been down, though he's not certain how much. And that he has a cup of coffee, and a seat at the bar with a good view of the door and as much of the room as one really can have a good

Comments

[armoralchemy]

... "Colonel Huges?"

Al has decided to make an appearance in bar tonight. Or rather Bar has found him on his way out the door for a walk in the late night air.

[makes_it_rain]

"Yes?" Maes looks over at the sound of the voice, expression quizzical. It remains so as recognition of the voice reconciles itself with memory of the form he'd last seen the boy in. Green-gold eyes widen in slow disbelief. "Alphonse? Is that you?"

[armoralchemy]

"Yeah I guess I look kinda different than when you last saw me."

Alphonses eyes glaze over for a moment as a new part of his mental block begins to unravel.

[makes_it_rain]

"You do," Maes confirms. Bafflement shatters into a broad grin, warm and somehow proud - they'd succeeded after all. "You do! You managed, then, you and Edward?"

[armoralchemy]

Alphonses eyes darken as his memories take him back to THAT night.

"Brother died. I sacrificed my body and the stone to bring him back body and all. I dont remember anything after that but brother told me that he tried a similar transmutation and well this is the result, me back together mind body and soul."

[makes_it_rain]

"Oh." The smile fades, and while Maes does not look haunted, there is sorrow written clear on his expressive features. An honest reaction, for once. "I'm sorry."

[armoralchemy]

"It's ok brother didn't die well at least I don't think he did. I saw him here about 2 months ago."

Alphonse looks around as if expecting Edward to show up any moment.

[makes_it_rain]

"That--" And Maes cuts off right there, frowning slightly as he gazes down at Alphonse. He does not, he decides, particularly wish to tell the boy that this may not mean anything. "Well, that's something, at least. It's good to see you again."

[armoralchemy]

[OOC: do you mind if Ed mun joins in?]

"It's really good to see you Colonel, I haven't been back to central yet since waking up."

Ok so Alphonse is still a little naieve and sometimes forgets about certain events.

Or it could be the memory block slowly unraveling.

[makes_it_rain]

There is a particular expression that those above a certain age get when faced with the possibility of revealing painful truths to those below another equally certain age. Maes wears it now, for a moment, before his habitual friendly expression washes it away.

It says, quite clearly, Ah, shit.

"Taking time to rest up at home, are you? Good idea."

((Not at all!))

[notashortbean]

Now, Ed hasn't found the bar in awhile - but he's gonna take finding in on New Year's to be a sign. A sign that things are changing and he'll be able to see his brother more often! This is only helped by the fact that as soon as he steps through the door, he spots Al.

And... Hughes.

Ed knows that the guy spends time in here, but it's never going to get any less shocking. Once you've seen a guy's grave, it's kind of hard to see them alive. Or at least to adjust to the fact.

So he hovers by the door for a moment, before he can force a proper poker face on. A little bit of the shock still reflects in his eyes, though, as he heads over.

"Fancy seeing you two here," he says cheerfully.

[armoralchemy]

"Brother!"

Happy Al, Happy Al.

"That reminds me I had a project I wanted yours and Russels help with later, see I'm trying to figure out how to transmute a christmas tree light and the array isn't quite right, I keep overloading the wires...."

Al's voice trails off as he realizes that he is rambling and that can be rude.

[makes_it_rain]

"Hello, Ed." Hughes' welcoming smile is genuine enough, but his eyes dart warning past Al towards the elder of the Elrics. He is not entirely certain it will be received, or understood if it is, but it is the most he can do. "It's been a long time."

And then he falls silent, leaning back and watching - and the amusement with which he notes Al's enthusiasm is not even close to entirely feigned.

[notashortbean]

"Yeah," Ed says to Hughes. "Hopefully it isn't next time."

Dead or not, he still looks up to the older man. A second chance to have him around is appreciated.

As for Al, Ed laughs a little at his brother's rambling. "Slow down," he says, with a grin. "Try it slower."

[armoralchemy]

Al takes a breath and then tries again.

"See I ran into this funny little fellow the other day and he seemed like he was trying to decorate the Bar with singing Holly berries. Well I thought I might be able to put a Christmas tree together with lights and all, but every time I transmuted the lights they overloaded. Teacher wasn't real happy with the outcome."

That being a flaming Christmas tree.

[makes_it_rain]

Hughes smile this time is shadowed, ever so slightly. "Hopefully."

His brow furrows slightly at Al's tale, and he mouths the words, singing holly berries? His expression is not hard to read at all - Milliways is very, very strange.