021 | [Written/Action]

[idkmybffroy]

[ First things first, there is business to attend to regarding Luceti's draftees as a whole. And that's fine- it's important. Filtered from Elicia because he's always kind of weird about serious-facing, even when it's mostly written. ]

Comments

[Action]

[crytearsofjoy]

[Hughes can catch Winry at the house before she runs out to meet Haruhi for the day. Last night she had spoken with Ed and Sokka, but she's not sure she's ready - or if she'll ever be.]

[Action]

[idkmybffroy]

[ He'll admit to being biased: she's the most important person to talk to today.

If she happens to be in a more open-to-all-residents area, he'll just walk up and knock on the doorframe. If she's in a designated Winry Area, then a proper door-knocking is merited. ]

[Action]

[crytearsofjoy]

[She'll be in the kitchen, making breakfast for herself. She's actually awake before noon today, so it's a special occasion. When Winry hears the knocking on the door she turns her head to see him.]

Oh, Mr. Hughes.

[Action]

[idkmybffroy]

Winry. [ This is not a talk that should be had. Must start somewhere. ]

How are you doing?

[Action]

[oda_hates_me]

[Hughes should know the best place to find a chef is in a restaurant. And today, he'd be right to check.

Sanji's in the dining area, efficient as ever, but a stiff set of shoulders and a brooding form hint that his mind isn't completely on the food or the customers]

[Action]

[idkmybffroy]

[ Ah- success at last. This is one of the ones he's still not sure how to step with just yet; there are boundaries with Sanji, aren't there? Somewhere, with ten days of being his father put aside.

But that was getting a bit far back for dwelling on. There's something new every day, and plenty more to be worried about. ]

... Looking back, I guess there wasn't much point in keeping half an eye out for you in the street.

[Action]

[oda_hates_me]

... Hughes. [He sounds as caught off-guard as he looks, especially by the implication that the man was looking for him]

Need something? [He straightens and gives Hughes his undivided attention. There are no customers that need looking after, and he can't see Hughes asking for a meal when he has a wife more than happy to fix him dinner.]

[Action]

[idkmybffroy]

For the most part, I wanted to make sure I wished you luck before the third rolled around. [ Because he knows you can take care of yourself, at least, which means he pretty much can't do anything foryou. Such is the life knowing shonen characters. ]

[momnapplepie]

[At some point, when Hughes is sitting down at home, Gracia will appear with a cup of tea before moving to sit on the other side of the sofa.]

[idkmybffroy]

[ He offers up a flicker of a very genuine smile when she appears- because she's Gracia, and he's Maes, and she's probably the person in Luceti most likely to know what for what when it comes to any worrying he does over this draft.

... and this kind of situation is why he's not supposed to want her here. They take noncombatants. They're taking Winry out into that ungodly mess (and Haruhi, and Selphie, and two men who used to be his children and a few who used to be his grandchildren, and a couple of friends to go with them) and he knows he can't do anything to stop it.

Checkmate can be the worst part of the game. ]

[momnapplepie]

[She passes him the tea quietly, and is willing to sit there in silence for a time.

The two of them are on better terms than when she'd first arrived, but they've still a ways to go before catching back the easy comraderie of the past. Elicia still sleeps between them.

But she still knows that sometimes, her presence can help him find the strength to pull himself back to himself. And she's just going to wait until she senses he knows himself again.]

[idkmybffroy]

[ It's a long pause. But not really feeling any pressure; that's good. ]

... She'll be all right.

[not_a_bluesbro]

[Mister Answers-the-Truth'll be at the bar, ordering himself the usual daily drink before he walks back home. Surely you'll stop in just because you're a nosy bastard, right? Possibly? :|a]

[idkmybffroy]

[ This is what makes us such great buddies, obviously. You just know things, like where I'll turn up eventually.

He'll just sit on down next to you. ]

[not_a_bluesbro]

[He double-takes a bit, pleasantly surprised.]

Hughes. [Actually, it's one of his firsts, addressing you by your using name; maybe that's why it feels a little odd on the tip of his tongue.] Hey.

[idkmybffroy]

Yo, Nicholas. [ For being so used to people just calling him Hughes... that was still pretty weird to hear. Guess it's one of those things you just have to get used to. He'll flash a brief grin at the new drinking buddy before jumping into business. ]

So I heard you're in for a few busy days soon.

[written]

[whichwayagain]

[So that not!brother who kept on getting lost sees this. And it's a good idea--Mihai is certainly feeling a bit more useless this time, anyway, given that he's not on the list. Not that he wants to go back, but at least he knows what he's doing.

Which is the point of the reply he leaves.]

Let me know if you need any help with those lessons? I've got time to spare.

[written]

[idkmybffroy]

[ You have to love when people are willing to help out during times like this. ;^; ]

Absolutely.