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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[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.

[Glad to know at least he's enjoying it.]

There is in-patient therapy, but I'm quite certain the damage is irreversible.

That's unfortunate. I hope his daughter is all right, then, considering she must have had to put up with it her entire life. [As far as he knew, anyway.] Do you suppose there is any way to develop immunity? Certainly, you must have learned a method during the period you've known him...

I hope so as well. She doesn't sound deserving of it.

Unfortunately, there is no immunity. It's just a slow but steady path to insanity with him. [A mock sigh.] Although, in all reality, he isn't nearly as horrible as I'm portraying.

...he's normally worse.

No, she really doesn't. Especially with the way he describes her. Assuming those aren't exaggerations.

Oh, my. [Hughes chuckles.] So he is quite literally like a disease, then.

I feel bad for her sometimes. Thankfully, she can afford to take breaks from him every so often.

[There's a very solemn nod on Barnaby's end.] Terminally.

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