tampered | Log :: Ongoing

So...he'd been dead. And now he wasn't dead. He'd been less confused about that fact than what was going on now. He'd been here for roughly a day and already he'd admassed several things. One was that the ticking noise in his ear could constantly be heard wherever he was and whatever he was doing. Two is was damned annoying and three...he'd apparently missed out on a quite a lot of things 'back home'.

He'd actually come to terms with the idea of missing everything but having to come back and face the things that he'd lost...well, it was a little hard to take but he was holding up. Or, at least, he thought he was. And now one of the Elric brothers was coming to take him to Roy and ~~he'd hold a thorough interrogation~~ they'd have a nice long talk.

Which is why he was currently waiting around on the street corner on the lookout for anyone who might look like Ed...a grown up Ed. Who would most probably looked different from the old Ed.

"...Hopefully he's grown a few inches by now."

He'd already known that the dead could be brought back. Alfons had been a case in point. But to have someone brought back from such a long time ago. It hadn't been hours. It'd been months, years, since he'd last spoken to Hughes. And now, amongst all that was going on, the City had seen fit to bring the man back again.

Hands buried in his pockets, Ed slowly made his way through the square, heading back toward the center. The last day had been filled with nothing but his own thoughts for company, and the sudden influx of brightly coloured clothing, loud music, and...strange hairstyles, had thrown the blond enough for the day. Yet alone the fact he was about to meet up with a ghost from the past.

...perhaps it would've been a good idea to have asked where he was first.

For having been in the Investigative Department it still took Hughes quite a while to figure out why Ed still hadn't shown up yet. It should have really occured to him sooner that the younger boy, no man now, wouldn't know where he was. If even he didn't know his own location how was Ed supposed to know?

All in all it made for a very difficult situation and it took Hughes a couple of seconds to decide what to do. He wasn't entirely certain that Ed would find him in time so...why not go find him instead? Two heads were better than one after all.

...Now this was going to be interesting. How to find someone in a city he'd only just fallen into, in a place that had no specific landmarks he was used to, and was filled with people he was unfamiliar with? Very interesting indeed.

It was at times like this that Ed really missed having his alchemy. Creating some kind of signal would've been easy for him otherwise. But as it was, he was left with nothing.

Other than common sense.

...or the ability to talk.

The first few people he spoke to, came up with nothing useful. Though many of them had been too busy complaining to actually come up with anything of use. However, it wasn't long before the blond had found a possible lead. A man in blue uniform had been spotted a few moments before. A quick direction, and a brief thanks, and Ed was on the move, walking briskly through the paved streets.

Whilst he walked Hughes pondered in his mind what a grown up Ed and 'aged' Roy would look like. He knew he himself looked the same, but what would the other's look like? He was pretty sure Ed should have changed by now but he didn't even know how long he'd been gone. It could have months, weeks or even years. How old would Elysia be now? His darling daughter could be all grown up and...dating...possibly married and...over his dead body!

...Well...he supposed it was over his dead body.

Hurriedly pushing back such thoughts Hughes focused on the now. And the now was his attempt to find Ed. And then Roy. And then everything could finally be sorted out.

"Yo! Ed!"

[ooc: *apologises profusely for the utter crapness that is this log* XD;;]

His feet practically screeched to a halt as a familiar voice reached him. Stopping in his track, his gaze travelled over the surrounding crowds, a few heads also turned to trace back the voice that'd cut through the streets.

There.

His eyes widened in a mix of shock and relief, as a grin slowly began to appear on his face. It...really was him. It was... "Hughes!" On the move once again, Ed made his way over toward the older man, who still seemed exactly as he'd last seen him. "It's about time."

[ooc: They shall be there soon~ Hopefully. XD]

Hughes felt like he'd shrunk and aged at the same time, even though he knew both were impossible. He also felt the urge to hug Ed to his chest but he wasn't so sure how this older Ed would take it. Didn't they say that once birds had flown the coop they'd never go back?

He resisted for all of five seconds before giving in and wrapping his arms around this...new and improved Ed? He had a million things to say but he didn't say any of them, instead he simply grinned and laughed.

"You've grown!"

[ooc: geh XD post/comment~ *dies* sleeeep~ blame it on the lack of sleep <3;]

Well, so much for acting his age. After the brief few seconds it took for his brain to catch up with him, Ed found himself pulled into a hug. Pulling away as best he could, he struggled for freedom as he gave a nervous laugh in return.

"Y-yeah. And you haven't changed one bit." Another push to get away, and he continued. "At least I'm sure it's definately you now."

[ooc: I...think I need to go do that sleep thing myself, actually. That, and my laptop is getting waaarrrmm @__@ Carry on tomorrow, guys?]

[ooc: omgomgfopdhomaom *LOVES UPON* SLEEP SLEEP NOW andI'mnotadeserter~! yes, carry on tomrrow XD;; ♥]

[ooc: I shall~ Uh...once the room/PC situation is sorted. u__u I'll try to carry on a bit tomorrow with that. But yosh, nighty night~!]

[ooc: XD You go sleep too~ I'll catch you in the morrow, and night night~!]

Hughes grinned wider and reached out his hand to pat Ed on the head. "You're not old enough to avoid hugs just yet Ed."

Reaching around he grabbed Ed by the collar and started pulling him down the street at a brisk pace, free arm swaying by his side. "Well, time to go. No time to waste."

Grumbling under his breath, any form of response was soon cut off as he found himself being practically dragged down the street. It took him a few moments to catch on to what was happening, but a few moments more to regain his footing properly and tug back on Hughes' hold on him.

"You don't even know where you're heading." Glancing round, he quickly caught on to their position, before pointing in the direction of one of the tall buildings in the distance. "That way."

Hughes stopped abruptly, and let his hand fall from Edward's collar. He turned in the direction that Edward had been pointing at and then carried on, picking up his pace as he went. He looked at the series of buildings Ed had gestured to and made a 'humming' noise in the back of his throat. "Roy seems to have gone up in life."

He laughed slightly at that, patting Edward on the back. "Which one does he live in?"

Speeding up his own pace in response, Ed found himself almost running to keep up. He may've grown over the years, but it obviously still hadn't been enough. Of course, he wasn't about to admit to that.

"He lives in building 3." A quick glance to the closest building signalled that they were pretty close. "Just over there. Apartment 9." A room above a room.

Hughes noticed the change in Edward's pace with a smirk and just barely slowed down until his pace matched the younger ~~boy's~~ man's. He was never going to get used to that. Just like he was never going to be able to adjust to the idea that Al was no longer a suit in armour but was now human.

"Well...we're just about...there." He said, coming to a halt.

[ooc: *had such an urge to write 'Al was no longer a suit of armour but was now a real boy~' Pinocchio quotes ftw~ ...or not XD stuefinimhsmi POSTS NOT COMMENTS >_<;;]

Stopping alongside Hughes, Ed looked up to the building in front of him. Other than the one other apartment block, he hadn't actually been inside any of the others. That meant he had no clue if the buildings would be laid out the same.

Though judging from the fact Roy's apartment had to be off the ground, it seemed doubtful. Unless of course, he'd transmuted the ground below the building.

With a shrug of his shoulder, Ed left the thought to itself as he stepped forward, pulling the door to the building open. Glancing back at Hughes once again, he half grinned. "Somewhere in here."

[ooc: WTF?! I'd replied to this!]

"No time like the present!" Hughes replied, bypassing Edward and entering the building first. He could admit to himself that he was slightly nervous. And a strange mixture of sadness, happiness and relief. He gave a half smile as he stopped and turned around towards Ed.

"So...where is the Colonel hiding?" He was damned if he was going to wait any longer. After all, he'd waited far too long already.

Heading in after the other, Ed glanced round the echoing hallway, almost at a loss for where to look. "Not sure exactly. He said room 9, but I've never been there before." Taking a few steps further inside, he headed toward the nearest door, finding it numberless. A peek inside, and he'd found out it was simply an unclaimed room.

Try again.

The next was an empty cupboard. The one next to it, room 500. "These buildings make no sense," he muttered, under his breath, before turning back to Hughes again. "Stairs?"

Did anything in this place make sense? After all Hughes was sort of...well, he had been sort of dead. And now he'd sort of been resurrected again. And Edward had actually grown. That was enough to tell him things were strange here.

Putting his best foot forward Hughes gave Edward a half-hearted salute before beginning to climb the stairs. Was that...neighing he could hear? Putting on a grim expression Hughes made it to the top of the stairs and planted his feet on the floor whilst he waited for Ed to catch up.

"...Colonel Roy Mustang." He said, almost reflexively. "It's time to come out now. Afterall, you haven't seen any pictures of Elysia in a while!"

[ooc: ...finally! Roy you're up! XDDDD how're we going to work this now? Hughes-Roy-Ed?]

Roy was sat on his sofa. He'd stopped pacing ages ago when he began to fear he would burn the carpet. His elbows were on his knees, and his fingers had threaded into his hair to hold onto his head as he stared at the floor.

The Unicorns were going crazy downstairs. Some of the noises he swore did not sound like horses, some of them did. He didn't really care too much. If Cielo was downstairs, she'd see to them. After all they weren't a major issue in his list of priorities at the moment.

Hughes... Brigadier General Hughes? What was he going to say to him? What was he going to do? So much had happened since Maes had died, he wouldn't know where to begin. There was so much else going on there though. What about Gracia and Elysia?

"What the hell is taking you so long Fullmetal!?" He yelled, standing to his feet and cursing loudly. He never liked waiting, and Maes had never left him waiting.

Following up after Hughes, Ed continued forward through the corridor, listing off the room numbers as he went. "33, 1097, 2, 18, 19, 77... Who the hell designed this place?" Rounding a corner, his thoughts were soon halted, for one very good reason.

His attention was quickly grabbed by the sudden, familiar voice that echoed through the corridor toward him. That same voice that seemed to be hurling abuse in his direction. Turning back round the corner, he followed the sound back through the hallway he'd just walked through...and back to where he was sure room 18 had been. "It's not my fault you didn't give me better directions!" His own yelled response met with the closed door to apartment 9.

At last.

[ooc: Same here~]

"Directions are only good if they actually work," Hughes commented as he followed up to stand behind Ed, looking at the door curiously. "...Though the design of this place is very curious." Definately worth looking into.

Fighting the urge to start drumming his hand against the door Hughes instead knocked briskly once, then twice, and then stood back and waited for Roy to answer. He wondered what the other man looked like with added wrinkles. And maybe a line or two of grey. He had to withhold a smirk at that thought and instead plastered a large smile over his face.

Roy felt like his heart stopped when he heard Edward's voice on the other side of the door. Stepping closer to it as if it were about to explode. If Edward was finally here then so was...

His voice. Roy physically stopped in his tracks, pressing his hand against the wall beside the door to steady himself. This wasn't real, it couldn't have been real he had spent tears over this man... for him to be alive again was like...

His eyes closed, and he took a deep breath to calm himself. When he heard the knock, he opened his eyes, only able to focus one on the door in front of him. Just open the door... and... Just open it.

His hand moved to the handle, and he hesitated for a moment before carefully pulling the door open, stepping so that he was stood in perfect view of his guests, his hand falling away from the handle as he took in the sight. He hadn't changed a bit.

"...Afternoon."

He was all but ready to continue his tirade against the other man for complaining. However, that died the moment he caught sight of Roy as the door swung open. Instead of anger, it was replaced with...something he wasn't sure how to describe. It wasn't pity. Never pity. The result of that would've been worse than he could've imagined. Whatever it was though, there was also a note of discomfort mixed in there.

Stepping to the side, he looked away from the pair, granting them as much privacy as he could, without making it too obvious. They were old friends, and to him, he felt as though he was intruding by simply being there. Best to give them as much space as he could.

Hughes didn't know what to do for the few seconds it took him to take in Roy's expression and Ed's non-too-subtle backing out. He felt like crying, jumping, hugging and yelling all at once but simply settled for dragging Edward into the apartment and slapping Roy on the back as he walked past him.

"Well, this is a nice apartment you've got here. A bit small for raising a family though. Why aren't you married yet Roy? I expected to see at least two kids running around by now. You can't have all the support you need to make it to the top if you're not surrounded by those who want you there."

Roy almost stumbled backwards from the slap he recieved to his back, and he spent a good few seconds staring at the floor as a result of the shock. When he heard Maes talk again, he lifted his head and closed the door.

He turned round to look at Hughes, his expression turning from one of shock, through many emotions until he landed smack bang on a rather depressed looking expression.

"Brigadier General..." He started lamely, shaking his head slowly and moving away from the both of them behind the counter, where he pulled out a bottle of Brandy, and three small tumblers.

"There is no family, I'd be worried if there was." He told, pouring equal amounts of dark liquid into the tumblers, before taking one, and downing it quickly, setting it down, and pouring another, he brought the four items to a small coffee table, with two sofas either side of it, nodding for the two of them to sit down.

Again, the blond found himself being pulled around, this time into the very same apartment he'd be steering clear of, under any other circumstances. This time however, he moved without fail, watching silently as the door was shut behind them. Even without having to look at the other two, it was obvious they were both as on edge as he was. If not moreso.

Making his way over to the offered seat, he dropped heavily into it, the past few days making it easier for him to do so. Rest was something he missed. Staring at the glasses in front of him, he had to stop himself from screwing up his face at the sight of the alcohol in front of him.

Ah well...

Hughes quickly walked up to the coffee table and almost spilled Ed's tumbler over in his attempt to get the alcohol away from him as fast as possible. "Drink should not be given to children! Why, if my Elysia were to be given alcohol..." His face went grim as he looked at the liquid before him.

Quickly shoving whatever thought was attempting to crop up away Hughes forced himself to focus on his next dilemna. Where to sit. Damn it, why two sofas? Why not three seperate chairs? It simply made things harder.

Deciding that it'd be better to face Roy than sit next to him he collapsed down next to Ed and put the alcohol as far away as he could get. "Ed, you need milk to make your bones strong and healthy! My Elysia has perfect bones! I even have the X-ray scans if you want to see..." Wait a minute...did he have them anymore? Where had he put them?!

Roy sighed at both of their actions, picking p Ed's glass and pouring the contents into his own, he took the empty glass back to the kitchen area, pouring some 'coca cola' that he'd been given into it instead.

Upon returning to the table, his gaze fixed on Hughes. Was his head screwed on? He shook his head and offered Edward the glass, before sitting down directly opposite the both of them. He pulled his glass closer, fidgeting with it openly.

Hughes was making this harder by being so talkative. It had never been easy to catch him in a particularly calm mood.

"Maes, do you remember dying?" He asked bluntly. He needed to know though, the city churned out many people from different timelines.

"I'm not a child," he muttered quietly, as he watched the drink being taken away. It wasn't as though he'd never drunk alcohol before. Hell, he had certain memories that related to that fact alone. It was just that the alcohol involved then had simply been beer, not something as strong as brandy. He wasn't planning on making himself ill. Especially not today.

The next drink that was placed down in from of him looked equally as unappetising, but he wasn't about to complain. A surprising feat, considering who he was. The drink was black...and bubbling...and he simply pulled his attention away and back toward the two adults.

The question posed by Roy caused his eyes to widen in surprise, both at the content and the mere fact it'd been said so suddenly. ...Uncomfortable...

Hughes quietened immediately, reaching towards his tumbler and taking two gulps before placing it down again. He laced his hands together, resting his head atop of them and looked Roy straight in the eye. "Time to get serious then?"

He thought for a moment how to respond before deciding to simply say it straight out. "Death is not something you can forget easily. Especially your own death. Your last words, your last sounds, your last emotions...In my own experiance everything becomes clearer, however...there's nothing to do with it. I apologise for not being able to predict what would could have happened, both to my wife, my daughter, you, Ed..." He sighed and leaned back, clasping his hands behind his back and trying to sound almost carefree as he spoke his next words. "The information I gathered is most likely to be unhelpful to you now as well. I'm sorry I couldn't be of better use Roy."

He frowned slightly as he looked down at the table in front of them. "Now, I have a few questions I'd like you...both of you...to answer."

Roy nodded once in reply to Maes' initial comment. Serious was the way he intended for this conversation to be. He hated it when there were unspoken words between the two of them, he didn't want to have to dodge topics of conversation, or avoid questions. He wanted Hughes to know the truth, to know everything. Only after that, would he be able to appreciate having his friend back.

Unfortunately, as Hughes kept talking, he found himself less glad of the fact that he had broached the subject so soon. He was aware of the burning sensation under his eyelids, and conscious of the fact that his eyes were watering up to. He closed them quickly, but it did nothing to hide the stray tear that slid down the side of his cheek not occupied by an eyepatch.

Hughes had been working underneath him up until death. His most loyal subordinate and trusted friend. He just wished the circumstances had been different.

"We were aware you had figured something out..." He was about to add 'It tooks us weeks to find out what that was, however'. He didn't want to make Hughes feel any worse about the way he had died.

Making sure that the only trace of his emotion would be that single line of water down his cheek, he brushed it away swiftly before looking back up at Hughes confidently.

"I'm sure we will answer honestly, Maes. Please, ask away."

[ooc: Okie~ ~~Should probably go do that too. >__>~~ Nighty night! Catch you in the morrow. ^^

And also...I'll be bypassing my go, for Ed is just silent right now~]

[ooc: Deserter.]

Hughes wasn't sure whether to mention the tear and get fried or remain quiet and not get fried. It was a hard choice, especially when he had to consider that he should really either comfort or torment his best friend within an inch of his life with the information given. Then again the chances of his friend crying over him were high and tormenting him about it would be simply too cruel and so he merely sat still for an age staring contemplatively at the carpet. It really was an ugly carpet. Just like the whole apartment was ugly. There were several factors that made up this fact:

1: There was no Gracia. If there had been a Gracia the place would be homely and wonderful and smell of delicious home-made cooking.

2: There were no drawings made by his genius daughter Elysia. What was he going to do with the obligatory drawings to put on his fridge? (The fact that he didn't have a fridge was inconsequential. What was Roy going to do without Elysia's pictures to put on his fridge?)

This line of thought carried on for quite a while, making the silence more drawn out that was ideally necessary.

In the end all Hughes did was reach out and push Roy's tumbler further towards him.

"Of course I had something figured out. Where do you think Elysia inherited her intelligence from? Not that my Gracia isn't intelligent. She's almost as smart as I am." He smiled, off in his own world for a moment before forcing himself to stay on target.

"Now...let's start off with where I am. I think that would probably be easiest. And then both of you can explain together to make it more reliable."

[ooc: FOUR DAYS LATE?!! omg I am so sorry everyone XD; *grovels* First exams, then family problems, then thunder storms, then just...laziness DDD: *begs forgiveness*]

Roy's eyes threatened to water up completely when Maes spoke. He could not manage to keep a lid on the pain he felt upon hearing about Gracia and Elysia. No one was supposed to have died. That wasn't the plan.

The question was the one thing that managed to steer him away from his gloom, and took a deep breath. He'd died such a long time ago, and so much had happened he didn't know where to start. Looking over at Fullmetal, he nodded to the young man, before clearing his throat.

"You know how you died. I don't want to cover that." He told bluntly, lifting a hand to press into his forehead. Thinking.

"To put it in simple terms. It took us a while to realise the conspiracy within the Military." He stared at Hughes blankly for a few moments before shaking his head, explaining from the best of his memory what had happened, up until the point where he talked about being promoted to Brigadier General.

"Havoc and the others took my identity, whilst Hawkeye and I stayed back in central. I was determined to kill him."

[ooc: I didn't want to type it all out, and you know anyway!]

[ooc: hughes-mun finally decided to post. Thought I'd let you know!]

[ooc: XP I apologised D:]

Log :: Ongoing

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