soul_campaign | 070 | Mustang | Video | February 6, at around 8 AM

070 | Mustang | Video | February 6, at around 8 AM

[The first thing you'll see, when the feed comes on, is one gloved hand adjusting the screen a bit - there's the sound of rain in the background. Then it's withdrawing, showing a hooded figure leaning against a wall close to Shibusen Academy, staring down at the screen.]

It seems like I've missed quite a lot around here...

[Clean face, dark hair, eyepatch.

Yep. Guess who's back, Death City? And looking a lot tired, and a little concerned. Roy Mustang's smiling, though. That's a good thing, right?]

Hello again, everyone. Sorry I took so long, coming back. Members of the Watch, please check in with me immediately. As for the rest... well, I'd appreciate it if someone could fill me in.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What is it?

[Softly]

Go home. We have things under control here. I'm sure there are people that have missed you that have nothing to do with the Watch.

[Go home, huh.

He wishes he could do that. Really.]

[And none of that conflict is showing on his face.]

They'll check in with me soon, I think. I can't exactly be selfish right now.

I wouldn't call it that. If we were still under attack would be one thing, but right now it's just clean up.

I suppose so. [A light frown.] I'm waiting on the rest of our men, though. I know you promised me a report, but do you have anything I can work with now?

[Please give him work, Flynn. Your boss is feeling antsy, anxious and guilty right now.]

Edited 2012-04-03 16:54 (UTC)

[He purses his lips, but ours is not to question why ~~at least to the boss' face~~]

I have a mostly complete list. We still have some that haven't checked in and aren't in the clinic that I'm working through now, both Watch and civilian Guests.

[He sends the file, with a few certain people missing on it...]

Thanks.

[Reading that through now.

...

Yeah, it looks like unless you tell him or find some excuse, he is not going to come out of the cold like a sensible person ought to.]

...

[le sigh. Reminds him of Yuri when he gets ~~rarely~~ focused, and that connection makes his chest hurt for the man.]

Sir, I'll meet up with you, we can do a door to door to fill out the rest of the list. Make sure no one is hurt that we missed.

[The offer's enough to surprise him, and draw his attention away from the list.]

I don't want to take you away from your duties.

[Strange that the Commander's saying this to his second, but he's the one who's been absent. Flynn's probably got a better handle of things than he does at this point.

Note, though, how he isn't saying no yet.]

These people are my duty, Sir. ['And so are you' is the silent addendum. Being second isn't just about taking over if Roy is gone- It's making sure there's still a Roy to run the Watch in the first place]

Someone needs to do it, and with how short handed we are due to injuries... a little foot work never hurt anyone.

[And now you've got Roy trying to figure out how to ~~take this on himself~~ ~~chase you off~~ protest.

He's tired, though, and worried, and maybe a little grateful for the help. Have a tiny smile then, Flynn.]

Very well. I'll wait for you here.

On my way.

[He shows up eventually, a jacket and two thermoses in his arms, bundled up himself as well. He holds out one before he even stops walking.]

Breakfast. Soup. Mr. Aragaki made it for the office.

[And your boss is slumped a bit against that wall before your arrival, taking a moment to actually FEEL and LOOK as tired as he is and smoke in between all the calls.

It vanishes, though, at your approach. A nod and a smile, as he's taking the offering.]

Thanks. This'll help me a lot.

[It's cold out here.]

[And now the jacket is offered. If he noticed that haggard look, he doesn't mention it- for both their sake.]

The weather isn't on our side.

[Switching things around a bit to pull that on, underneath the raincoat he's got.

Warmth is good. =w=]

No, doesn't look like it. Has it been clear for the rest of the week, though?

[Hum, hum, now for soup.]

Brisk, but clear for the most part, yeah.

[He twists the lid off the other thermos, pouring tea into it and sipping. Not as strong as coffee, but more fragrant and relaxing. He assumed they could both use that more then staying awake right now]

Let's hope that this doesn't build up to something worse.

[...Bless you, Shinji, for this amazing soup. Yep.]

Now: where should we start?

The order doesn't matter, just as long as we hit everywhere. A grid approach maybe?

Sounds good.

[Looking about, then picking a street to turn to...

...But pausing a bit, to look you over. Intently.]

[Flynn stares back, eyes sharp-

Before walking over and taking the lead.]

Residential should be the first focus.

[A nod, and he's following.]

You're okay, right?

[You better not be lying.]

[His steps falter a little at the question, and his expression shifts. Not to guilt or pain or anything worrying exactly- but dull surprise. The very idea of someone asking him such a thing is odd to him. Someone not Estellse anyway... or Yuri, in his smarmy round about way.

A wave of homesickness rolls over him, and a brief wince of pain shows on his face.]

A little tired, worried. But nothing focused on myself, specifically.

Ah.

[He doesn't speak for a while.]

How was it? Taking charge on your own for a bit.

Stressful. Badly timed. But I had help. it could have been much worse.

...

[he stalls, unsure how to continue. How to say: I feel like even those few deaths are on me, everything was a disaster.

070 | Mustang | Video | February 6, at around 8 AM

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