[ Action, Voice BACKDATED to the late afternoon of yesterday, 9/14 ]

[momnapplepie]

[The morning was beautiful in its normalcy. She'll look back on it and wonder at the fact that she ever let Maes go. She should have been holding onto him. She should have spent every minute with him - it is somehow impossible to her that he would be gone while she was there. She wouldn't think anything could separate them. This was twice she'

Comments

[Action] open to either, all, or both? /cool with whatev

[truthget]

[The entry was an unexpected and unpleasant surprise, to say the least; to call it bad news would be the understatement of the year. Hughes is gone. He's out of Luceti. He's sent back.

Which means he's dead.

There was a bit of cursing and smacking of hospital furniture involved after the revelation, and it's probably a good thing that the journal wasn't recording it, because it wasn't something for young or motherly ears. Al isn't with him in the room at the time, so after calming down a reasonable amount Edward scribbles out a note for his brother, takes both of their journals under his one currently-working arm, and starts to hobble home. He'd been giving some serious thought to the idea of moving out of the house when he recovered, but with this new development... yeah, that's not a good idea. Hope the household is ready for a slightly anemic, injured, and unhappy alchemist, because they're apparently stuck with him for the long haul.

Either way, he'll be seeking them out.]

[Action]

[crytearsofjoy]

[Winry happens to be sitting in the living room answering voice replies to Gracia's entry when Ed makes his way to the house. When he's in the door she looks over, and pales a little when she sees him.]

E-Ed? Why aren't you in the clinic?

[Action]

[truthget]

[Ed's not sure whether he should be worried or relieved to be facing Winry rather than Gracia herself when he arrives, but he's really going to have to get used to it if he's going to be living there again, and. Well, this really isn't about him. He scratches his cheek a little awkwardly, his gaze averted. Why does she think he's here? Geez.]

'm sick of looking at white walls all day. Anyway, I'm fine now.

[Though Al would punch him for using that word, after the fight they had.]

[Action]

[crytearsofjoy]

Don't be an idiot. You should sit down, or get to your bed - did you come from there alone?

[Action]

[truthget]

I'm not an invalid! It's bad enough with Al hovering like I'm gonna die any minute, I don't need you doing it, too.

[It's not even that far a walk! See, and he's not even dizzy!]

[Action]

[crytearsofjoy]

Ed, please, it's just - you push yourself. A lot.

[Like I'm gonna die.] Just sit. Sit down. I'll get you something to drink.

[Action]

[truthget]

[Rrrrrgh. Overprotective mechanic freak. Edward grumbles under his breath, but he reluctantly complies, if only to keep her from chewing him out some more. And okay, maybe he's still kind of weak, but he's strong enough to walk home, dammit.]

I'm not who you should be worrying about, you know.

[Action]

[crytearsofjoy]

[She knows. She knows, but what she doesn't know is how to handle it. So when she returns she doesn't have answer, but she does have a glass of water for him. She sets it on the table between the couches.]

[Action]

[truthget]

[Edward takes the water and drinks in silence for a moment, mulling things over carefully. It sort of seems like it's been one disaster after another in this place, and while that should make him feel just at home, humans don't think that way, unfortunately. All it's doing is making him more and more irritated. Can't they just have a bit of peace? At least Winry and the Hughes family deserve that much.

Still... he has to do what he can.]

Al and I are gonna come back for a while, if that's okay.

[Forever unsure over here, but... he can toss a bone, right?]

[Action]

[crytearsofjoy]

There will never be a world in which that isn't okay.

[...] I cleaned the sheets on your bed while you were gone, so don't worry about changing them.

[Action]

[truthget]

[That's the answer he expected, but it's still a small relief to hear that he's still welcome. It's not as if they're fighting or anything now, but... yeah.

His thoughts aren't really the kind he'd like to vocalize, though, so he focuses on a different issue entirely.]

Are you okay?

[Which... is probably a stupid question. But he has to ask anyway.]

[Action]

[crytearsofjoy]

[...No. She feels like crying, but she's determined not to. Not in front of Ed. They made a promise. However it hurts more than she can bear because it's like he died all over again. Sure she's glad to have had the extra time spent with him, but his departure still cuts like a knife. The blond hugs herself, and hunches over a bit. Her voice cracks when she speaks.]

I - I'm trying to be.

[Action]

[truthget]

...Winry...

[He hesitates, then edges over on the couch to make some extra room for her, if she wants to sit. Or needs to. Or...

...just. C'mere.]

[Action]

[crytearsofjoy]

[She hesitates before sitting down next to him, purposely leaving a decent gap between them.]

[Action]

[truthget]

[You. Dummy. He scowls slightly and nudges closer, breaking the gap between them, and lifts his hand to rest on the top of her head, tugging her over a bit. He'd rather be using his real arm, but the way things are right now...

...even so, he doesn't let go, speaking up after a moment.]

If it's not me that makes you cry... then you're not breaking your promise.

[Action]

[crytearsofjoy]

[Silently she leans into him. The girl is choked up for a moment before managing a few words.]

Y-you're sure?