soul_campaign | 04 { mar 2: early morning } { video }

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04 { mar 2: early morning } { video }

[Hughes' expression is fairly unreadable.]

Hey, is anyone else able to contact Roy Mustang? I can't seem to get a hold of him. I can't contact Hawkeye either.

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[Hughes chuckles, because that was an accurate way to put it.] Yeah. He tends to vent his frustration that way. Typically he looks like a kicked puppy if he's hiding something though. [~~Those weren't free deets.~~ Though most people have no idea what Roy's "kicked puppy" face looks like anyway. It was easily one of the subtlest expressions known to Hughes.]

[Genuine look of surprise. Roy Mustang? A kicked puppy?]

Really? [He is quite surprised by that.]

Yep!

[... Yeah, he is not expounding on that anymore than he already has.]

[Ohp, no elaboration. Alright. Barnaby just smiles and nods.]

Alright. I will take your word for it.

Hehehe.

What's your name, by the way? I never quite caught that.

Oh! I apologize, I hadn't introduced myself. I'm Barnaby Brooks, Jr.

[Barnaby? Was this that friend of Kotetsu's?]

No, it's all right, hahaha. Nice to meet you, Barnaby! I don't know if you know already, but my name's Hughes. Maes Hughes.

[Not friends, coworkers.]

It's a pleasure to formally meet you, Mr. Hughes.

Formally? How do you mean?

Just Hughes is fine, by the way, hehehe.

Having the chance to speak to you directly.

[He smiles.] Alright. Hughes. [Give him two days, he'll go back to 'mister'.]

Oh. I'm guessing you've heard of me before?

[Don't worry. He'll just remind you again, Barnaby.]

You raced my partner up the stairs to Shibusen one morning.

[He'll try not to forget... maybe.]

Oh! You're partners with Kotetsu? I didn't realize, hehe. I feel kind of bad that I beat him so brutally, uh... Was he okay after that? He wasn't too upset, was he?

[With a laugh, Barnaby shrugs.] If he wasn't, I paid no heed to it. Congratulations on your victory.

[Wait, what? So Barnaby had not bothered to deal with it? Then again, Kotetsu was making a bigger deal out of it than necessary, even before Hughes had left the man...

He chuckles and grins.]

Thank you! I did my best. Had only just recuperated from muscle stiffness at the time, so I was actually surprised when I beat him.

[Barnaby has more important things to think about than Kotetsu crying about a lost race. Guess who just Stopped Caring.]

Then you should feel proud. Going up against an able-bodied individual... His age must be catching up to him.

[Hughes obliges that with a chuckle.]

How old is he?

Either in his late thirties, early sixties, or mid-teens. I'm still trying to decide.

Oho? [That makes Hughes chuckle again.] What gives you such a mixed impression of him?

You'll understand when you get to know him more. It won't be too difficult to tell once you talk to him again.

Oh? I guess I'll need to talk to him more then, hehehe.

[Hughes cannot even begin to imagine what Kotetsu could possibly do to give Barnaby such an impression.]

I almost fear for your sanity.

[But he chuckles afterward. He's only kidding, as he quietly and harmlessly mocks his partner.]

[Hughes laughs heartily at that response.]

Has yours been endangered already?

Unfortunately. I'm quite certain I'm only hanging on by the last threads of logical thought.

[Hughes chuckles. Barnaby is certainly quite interesting to talk with.]

Is there no way to recover? Perhaps a doctor's assistance could undo the damage.