02 { feb 13: late afternoon } { video[s] }

[comradery]

[The network was spammed with a flood of messages in the span of a few minutes. Instead of posting each separately, it compiles them into a single post since there are so many. Each block is a separate message.

He posts all of them publicly since there is nothing remotely private about them. They're all addressed to Roy though. Who cares about saving Roy's face? It's not like Roy's in charge of a bunch of people, right?]



Roooooooooooooooooy, I'm BORED. Hey, you should come over.



Roy. Roy. Hey, Roy. I'll bet you'll never guess what Elicia did a few nights ago. It was the most adorable thing ever! I had just got home, and I was really tired bu— [The video cuts off suddenly.]



ROY, MY APARTMENT'S ON FIRE. [He looks frantic, but there is no evidence of a fire in the background behind him.]



Hey, stop working and get your ass over here, Mustang. I'm dying of boredom, over here!



There's nothing to do, Roy. You should come over and share some of that paperwork with me! And by share, I mean, give it to me and don't do any of it at all.



Hey, didja' know that Falman has impeccable memory? I tried moving the chess pieces once when he wasn't looking, and he figured it out as soon as he looked at the board again. Yeesh! How about we play a round, Roy?



Roy, have you ever seen a toilet paper roll be flushed down the toilet? Not the whole thing, but if you pull the paper over from the holder, put it in the water, and then flush it? It's pretty funny. It's probably a waste of paper though.



...okay, so I ran out of toilet paper. That wasn't a really good idea. Roy, could you get some toilet paper for me? I'm out. Please? Pleeeease? [In the background, anyone can see that he still has toilet paper though...]



Seriously, Roy, you should stop working and come over here. Don't leave me hanging!



Alright. You know what? Since you probably think my place is complete boring, and there's no reason to come by, how about I show you something you can't resist?
[The video moves and focuses in on Amaterasu, who's sleeping on Hughes' bed. After a few seconds, it shifts back to Hughes, who is smirking.]
What was that? I couldn't hear what you said over your sheer jealousy.

Comments

[thewarisover]

Don't treat me like a kid.

[There's no heat to the words, though, and he's not really fending him off.]

[comradery]

[He smiles warmly and stops.]

I don't know. You're pretty short. It's easy to mistake.

[...but he relents. It's rare to catch Roy this relaxed, and he does not want to pass it up. He turns a bit and wraps his other arm around Roy, his cheek leaning against Roy's head.]

...I thought I'd never see you again.

[thewarisover]

[...

There's just a slight moment of hesitation on Roy's part before he's reaching up, to draw the other in close.]

Yeah. Me too.

[comradery]

[His hold tightens a little.]

I'm sorry for leaving you alone for so long.

I'm here now.

[The rest is best left unsaid.]

[thewarisover]

Mm.

[Because he can't quite find the words now. Because it's fine, just staying like this for a bit.

Everything was going to be okay.]

[comradery]

Heh.

[His smile broadens, and he stays as he is.

There is no need to ruin a good moment. And, hell, he loved moments like this more than anything. Especially with Roy.]

[thewarisover]

[He doesn't say anything for a while, if only because he wants to regain a bit of his composure.]

I've got a lot of things to tell you about, and I'm not sure where to begin.

[comradery]

[He slides an arm down and rubs Roy's back gently.]

Take your time. We have all night.

[thewarisover]

You should be resting, though.

[Yeah he's back to fussing over you.]

[comradery]

I took a nap earlier with Amaterasu. I'm fine. If I get tired, I'll tell you, hehe.

[Typical Roy...]

[thewarisover]

[Have a Look, Hughes.

But he's pulling away a bit and sighing. It's as good an admission of defeat as any, really.]

You'd better.

[comradery]

I will. I promise.

[He pats Roy reassuringly on the shoulder. He really meant it.]

[thewarisover]

[...Well good, because he'd be cross at you if you didn't.

Wokey, finished with his food. And checking if Hughes is done.]

I'll take care of the dishes.

[comradery]

[Hughes gives Roy a look.

Really?]

That can wait.

[thewarisover]

...Or we could just start with the drinking.

[Why is this kind of really nice. ;;]

[comradery]

Hahaha. Sounds like a plan.

[He grins and ruffles Roy's hair again.]

[thewarisover]

[Was he flushing a little? Yes. Just a little.

Now quietly reaching over for the beer, and handing one to Hughes.]

I mentioned how I took the Fuhrer down already. Things sort of fell apart after that, back at home.

[comradery]

Mmhmm?

[He open it and takes a drink.]

...tends to happen, doesn't it.

[thewarisover]

Yeah. We tried to put things back together, but I guess the influence of the Homunculi and the one pulling their strings ran too deep.

[He looked down at his can.]

I gave up my rank and left for the north for a bit. Had to clear my head, between the conspiracies and Fullmetal going missing where I was. [Now looking at Hughes.] I have some detailed notes on it, as I said. I can send them over.

[comradery]

Homunculi?

Hm... Heh, you may as well, you know. I have nothing better to do right now, hehe.

[thewarisover]

Tomorrow, I guess. [A wry smile, then he's taking a drink.] Anyway, it was during that time that BREW sent me here. Wasn't too hot about Shibusen or their war for a while, but certain things made me come around in the end.

[comradery]

...heh, you're working on Valentine's? Really? Color me surprised; I never would have guessed. [He laughs faintly and takes a drink.]

Hm. I can understand that... [He himself was not so keen on it either, but it was not like he could simply return to his original world.] What eventually changed your mind?

[thewarisover]

Realizing that Shibusen's intentions were pure, and that the enemy they face truly deserved to be eliminated. Getting to know the other guests, and wanting to get them home.

[He remembers Dojima for a moment. His hands tighten around the can, just so.]

...I honestly wasn't thinking about myself back then.

[comradery]

[He realizes that the intentions are pure and that the enemy really should be stopped, but Hughes still is not ready to just fight in another war.

He smiles wryly regardless. Of course Roy would always prioritize helping others first. Even though the idealism was something distinctly Roy, it also tended to hurt the guy more than anyone else though.]

Heh. You almost never do...to a fault.

But...it's good to hear you at least recognize the fact now. [He pats Roy on the shoulder.] You should always take care of yourself first, Roy. [Not that he was one to talk. He was almost always doting on others anyway, but he at least knew to take care of himself when he needed to.]

[thewarisover]

I know, I know.

[Taking another drink, staring at that wall like there's something of interest on it.]

...There's more to it, though. Why I think I'm attached to this place enough to call it a second home.