acatalepsy_logs | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Edward Elric + OTA
Where: All over!
When: Arrival + sickness event
Rating: PG most likely
What: Edward arrives and Gets To Work

( a - arrival; temple and exploration )

[Edward probably didn't make the best impression with Astoria - but then, first impressions are rarely his strong suit - and he's very quickly angered by his lack of alchemy; any time it happened back home while battling that Father bastard had brought with it a sense of helplessness that just makes his irritation rise in spades. Even so, alchemists are still scientists, and a big part of science is observation and investigation, and he's pretty good at those.

Thus, Edward's first days are spent either lurking around the temple, watching as people come and go, or venturing through the territory of his new surroundings, interrogating people as they go about their lives. Don't be surprised if he's suddenly jogging over to you, annoyed and full of questions.]

Hey! Got a minute?

[Most of what he's noticed is how sick people are getting, which does not bode well.]

( b - sickness shenanigans )

[Yeah, the sick stuff definitely didn't bode well- and is getting increasingly worse over time. Edward himself is doing okay, suffering from just a bad case of the sniffles at worst, but he's starting to wonder if he's been dumped into a quarantine zone instead of some kind of battleground. It's making him wish he'd had the chance to study alkahestry, in case it could affect illnesses... then again, it's not like alchemy works here, anyway.

He's a mediocre cook and an even lousier nurse, so there isn't much he can do for the people who are sick, but he's got all four limbs and strength enough to run errands, so for a while he's wandering from place to place, checking in with those who are sick (or those in charge of the sick) for what they need- supplies, an extra pair of hands, cleanup, whatever. It's harder to feel so helpless when you keep yourself busy, and he's not afraid of a day's hard work.

He might also have a black dog with him, trotting along at his side and helping to carry small supplies in her mouth.]

( c - for castmates )

[Thanks to Mustang, he's been made aware of certain other Amestrians in the area, so with some directions in hand, Edward goes looking for them. Hawkeye first, as she's always been straightforward with him. There's no one more dependable. And Hughes...

...well, maybe he puts Hughes off, just a little bit. He won't admit that he's nervous, but... anyway, he'll get there before too long, if Hughes doesn't find him first.

Of course he's on the lookout for the others as well. Gotta check in, make sure they're still kicking.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Maes stands there, a grown man unsure of what to do or how to proceed. With Roy, he'd been out of it thanks to that field of flowers. It had been a slow realization after Roy had confirmed his worse fears and then they'd gotten stupidly drunk. Since then it had been a dance of avoiding the topic, even if it was always there on the surface.

Roy had then typically handled alerting the others of Maes's status. His encounter with Riza had been muted, but despite their common interest in Roy it wasn't like they'd been close. Of course there had been shock, after all, people don't just come back from the dead. Alphonse had been a different story. It was emotional on both ends: Maes because he had never seen the boy in his original body and Alphonse because he had also carried some guilt for Maes's death. Although it was doubtful if he felt the same burden as Roy or Edward had, not that Maes could know that for sure. And then, more recently, there was Winry. He hadn't meant to break in front of her, but there was only so much emotional baggage a man could carry around.

What was he supposed to say? He does feel obliged to make the next move after all. After a moment, Maes raises a hand like he's just greeting Edward after a long trip apart...which in some ways that's what this is right. Although the tone of his voice isn't quite the chipper, casual one that would normally accompany that.]

Hey, Ed. [He lowers his hand, though doesn't necessarily move any closer than a few steps.] I had a feeling I'd be running into you soon. [There's some hesitation, but then he slips his hands into his pockets, stance more casual as he offers a small smile.] I think you've gotten taller. You're looking good, you'll win over that mechanic of yours before you know it.

Edited (changed my mind...and then forgot a word) 2018-09-12 03:28 (UTC)

[If the situation were different - or, perhaps, if he was from a time before the man in front of him died - he might have offered up a more familiar reaction. Spluttered, flailed about, shouted something about it not being like that, no way, mind your own business. He'd be red in the face and full of bluster. Instead, Hughes' attempt to lighten the mood is somewhat lost on Edward. He grimaces, barely taking the words to heart, and glances aside in awkward silence for a long moment. It'd been hard enough to face Gracia, to face their daughter, to face Winry. But to face Hughes directly, while still wrestling with the long-lingering guilt that he'd played a role in getting this man murdered, tearing him away from his family and all his loved ones? He feels sick. This is so much harder than he'd thought it would be when Roy brought it up.

He swallows, trying to clear his throat, and finally manages to speak.]

Colonel Mustang... told me you were here. I was looking for you.

[...Well. Sort of. It's almost the truth.]

[Maes had realized it was a long shot, even as a he had said it. Still, it had been worth the odds in his opinion. But it's easy to judge by Edward's expression that it hadn't helped much with the mood at all.]

I know. He gave me a heads up you were here too. We...figured it might be easier for you to hear it first before seeing me in person.

[He's not sure how much that has actually helped or not. The reactions he gets are still pretty intense. But...they could probably take a poor turn otherwise and that's the main thing they are trying to avoid.]

...Probably right about that.

[He can't imagine how much more awkward and difficult this meeting would have been for the both of them if he'd been ambushed by this unexpected revival. Nevermind the fact that his last memories of back home included Envy showing up to brag about his murder and wear his face... it's just as likely to have gotten Hughes punched and interrogated instead of greeted properly.

....

What the hell is he doing?]

Ah... s-sorry. Here-

[He offers his hand out towards Hughes, and somehow, he manages a smile. It's a bit pitiful, like he's not quite sure if it's okay yet, but it's genuine.]

Welcome back, sir.

[Whatever he's feeling, it must be far more difficult for Hughes to have to do this every time he comes across someone from home who knows. Edward's being shitty for making it that much worse, and he knows it.]

[Maes isn't going to hold it against Edward or anyone really. He tries to imagine how he would react if he were to ever encounter a deceased loved one, someone he had buried long ago. It's difficult to imagine, though perhaps less so now.

He's a little taken aback by the extended hand. The conversation hadn't exactly started out smoothly and this seems to be coming out of left field. He doesn't leave Edward hanging for too long though, he takes his hand and gives it a firm squeeze. A firm, reassuring handshake that will likely push away any lingering doubts. This isn't Alphonse or Winry, so it feels a little strange to give him a hug. He decides not to put Edward through that though, but he does put his free hand on Edward's shoulder. It's a little more than a handshake, they'd been through a little more than seemed justified by a mere handshake.]

It's good to see you again, Ed.

[The handshake is solid, firm, and between that and the hand on his shoulder, the truth of this meeting finally sinks in proper for Edward. This isn't fake, this isn't a trick. Mustang was right. Hughes has a certain vibe to him, some kind of fatherly aura that he hadn't understood until meeting the man because Hohenheim had never felt like that. It's not something that Envy or any other fake could replicate, not if they tried for a hundred years. In many ways it makes this easier and infinitely more difficult all at once.

He purses his lips, taking a long pause before he speaks again to avoid the tremor he knows might crop up in his voice otherwise.]

You'll probably scold me for this, but I gotta say it. I'm sorry... for what happened. And for dragging you into it.

[While he doesn't let the handshake linger, he does keep a hand on Edward's shoulder. He glances upwards, trying not to sigh because he'd already heard this apology before. While Roy hadn't apologized for getting him involved, he had of course come up with a number of things to say he was sorry for. As if Roy could have done anything from miles away.

What would have happened if he had answered the phone? The only difference would have been getting the message to him before dying and then Envy would have gone after Roy as well.

He'd expected this to come up from Edward as well. Edward was a little old now to get scolded, but Maes wanted to make his feelings clear on this as well.]

I understand...but let me say something too.

[He places his now free hand on Edward's other shoulder.]

Look at me Edward. Neither of us could have known the kind of information I was going to come across in that time. I know you, and Alphonse, and even Roy all blame yourselves in different ways and for different parts of what happened [He releases Edward, taking a step back as he continues.] ...but when all is said and done, I made my own choices. I willingly agreed to help you and Alphonse. I chose to use an outside line to call Roy.

[He hesitates and then adds.]

I've been thinking about this a lot. And while I would do many things differently back then...I would still have helped you. That's just who I am and do you really think you could have stopped me anyway? I served in the military with Roy Mustang. I can be stubborn too you know.

[Edward's quiet for a long moment, considering those words, and eventually he's able to lift his head again to face Hughes directly.]

Miss Gracia said the same thing. I guess that's what being married is all about, huh- knowing someone as well as they know themselves.

[He's not going to agree, exactly- guilt and shame aren't things you can shrug off, especially when you've carried them around for as long as he has. But he understands, because he himself can be as stubborn as Mustang sometimes. And what Hughes says is probably true. This secret had to come out, and in many ways Hughes' death had only been the first step towards discovering everything they'd had to discover in order to save Amestris. It'd been Envy who pulled the trigger. He knows, he knows.

It hurts just the same, though.]

She did?

[He smiles slightly. Of course she did. It hurts to think about her and Elysia, alone, but he can't help but be cheered by thinking about them either. He supposes this is what people mean when they say something is bittersweet.]

Yeah, she certainly knows me very well. There's a lot I couldn't have done without her.

[Maes had only ever been as sure of himself and steady because he'd had Gracia to fall back on. He knew she must have had it rough after, but there was no one stronger or more put together than she was.]

Sounds familiar.

[All of the men he knows - including himself - are supported by more competent and held-together women. That's just sort of how it goes.]

You... know about all that happened, right? Mustang told you?

[Maes understands Edward's concern and hesitation with that question. He knows it must be weird talking to him for fear of making things worse. ]

You mean everything with the homunculi, their Father, the country-wide transmutation circle, and The Promised Day? Yeah. He filled me in on most of that and what he was involved in at least.

[Granted, that last part Maes had stumbled on to himself and that was why he'd been taken out. It was interesting to think that he'd found such a crucial part of their big plan. Maes has a sense there are parts that Roy has left out, but he hasn't pursued them because in the end it hadn't really seemed to matter. He'd told him the major parts at least, that much Maes could confirm after discussions with Riza.]

Feels kind of crazy to look back on how little we knew about everything. For you to find out as early as you did... we had no idea.

[And he still hates that ignorance - probably always will - but it really speaks to Hughes' detective work. Father and the homunculi had kept everything hidden for so long.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only