Open Log

[wellsuited]

Who: EVERYONE. Seriously, everyone.
When: Forward-dated to tomorrow night.
Where: A large building that had once been damaged, but has now been repaired. (Directions provided to anyone who needed them.)
Format: Action, paragraph, multiple threads, past, present. AKA whatever you'd like.
What: A little party to mix business and pleasure.
Warnings:

Comments

[ignite_the_sky]

[He'd told his Lieutenant he'd go, despite the fact that he really hadn't felt up to attending anything of the sort. He'd even gone so far to mention it to Hughes in hopes that the other man would come by to keep him company, but after setting foot out of his apartment (and after checking him over to ensure he didn't have a camera before he left), he hadn't seen him since.

For now, he's sticking close to the walls, keeping an eye out for his Lieutenant if just so he knows what she wore so he can say he was there.

Parties like this, especially after arguments like the one he'd had with her, really aren't his thing.]

[firebornfidelis]

[Parties like this really aren't ever her sort of thing, and yet here she is. It's been far less than stellar thus far - in addition to a very fun conversation with an unsavory stranger oh yes, she did see that Lust is here, thank you, but she's trying to pretend that she hasn't - but she can be very very good at keeping a lid on her annoyance when she wants to.

She navigates the crowd easily and comes up behind him, placing herself a pace behind and to the left of him without really thinking about.]

Colonel. So you did come.

[ignite_the_sky]

[He almost backed up into her until her heard her voice. Well, at least now she knew he was there!]

Don't be silly, Lieutenant. I said I was going to, an--

[Anything else he was going to say dies when he actually turns to acknowledge her. Riza in a skirt was something he's seen before. Riza in a little black dress is something else entirely.

And his mind is trying to think of something to say, but all he can muster is a stammered and slightly awkward...]

H-hi...

[firebornfidelis]

[She raises one eyebrow at his stilted greeting, but decides to make nothing of it.]

Hello, sir.

[She glances away, scanning the crowd absently as she straightens her jacket with a little tug.]

Well. I'm glad you're here.

[ignite_the_sky]

[He's feeling a little awkward, but since technically nothing at all has changed between them, it's easier to deal with and brush aside. Well, it's also easier if he ignores the fact that Lust is present.

...and he hasn't seen Hughes anywhere, which worries him. The possibility of the man popping up with a camera is one he's afraid of.

The tug to her jacket catches his attention, diverting his thoughts back to her instead of on his missing best friend.]

Are you okay?

[firebornfidelis]

[She turns back to face him, a quick half-startled motion. How does he do that?]

I'm fine, sir.

[She smiles slightly and imagines the look he'd give her if she told him about the man and his numbers.]

I just don't think I'm very well cut out for parties.

[ignite_the_sky]

[He raises an eyebrow questioningly. Something's not right, but he'll ask one more time then let it drop. If she doesn't want to tell him, she doesn't want to tell him.]

You're sure?

[...]

That makes two of us. It's been a rough month, though, so that may have something to do with it.

[firebornfidelis]

[She nods and meets his eyes.]

Some people just don't understand the finer points of polite conversation. It was nothing.

[And she frowns slightly, not displeased but thoughtful.]

Rough couple of months really. I feel like it's always something here.

[Something to fight, something to suffer through. Someone to miss.]

[popparazzi]

[And here comes Hughes, sneaking up on the both of you, dropping an arm around each of your shoulders and pulling you against him in one large group hug.]

So, how are two of my favorite people tonight? Enjoying yourselves?

[And a grin thrown Riza's way]

I must say, Lieutenant, that dress certainly is fetching on you tonight~

[Did he get into a few beers? Who knows? Hughes certainly isn't telling!]

[ignite_the_sky]

Perhaps things will start to calm down a bit. It would be nice...

[His gaze darts momentarily to her hands, and he hesitates before slowly moving to take one of her hands in his...

...but he never makes it because the next thing he knows, he's being grabbed and pulled back into an awkward embrace. So much for not knowing where Hughes was hiding!]

Hello to you, too.

[firebornfidelis]

[Before she really knows what's going on there's an arm around her shoulders and she's suddenly part of a weird group hug instigated by the the equally sudden appearance of Maes Hughes.]

... thank you, sir.

[She gives him a gracious little nod for the compliment and tries to casually extricate herself from his grasp without offending him. Casts the Colonel a quick questioning look to ask him whether or not the Lieutenant Colonel had been made aware of certain... decisions.]

[popparazzi]

So, how come you two aren't out there enjoying the party?

[Gives them both another squeeze before dropping his arms.]

You two need to live a little~

[ignite_the_sky]

[Shoots her a hurried look and the slightest shake of his head to say "OH GOD NO!". As far as he's concerned, Hughes doesn't need to know... yet. He might tell him eventually, like on his own deathbed.]

I'm... not really in a "party" mood.

[firebornfidelis]

Nor me, sir.

[She acknowledges - and agrees - with a shift of her eyes and easily turns her attention back to Hughes.]

Truthfully, I'd much rather be here than out there.

[A glance to the crowded center of the room. Completely truthfully, she'd rather be back home with Hayate and a good novel. Perhaps a little company. But big parties had never been something she was overly comfortable with.]

[popparazzi]

Hey, I didn't mean you had to be out there. But you two don't need to be wallflowers you know.

[ignite_the_sky]

I'm not. You can see everything, your back is guarded, and the exits are in plain sight. In fact, I'd say the wall's a perfect place to be.

[...military reasoning, all the way!]