[action]

[automailed]

[October 3rd again. Don't forget. This marks the second time he's hit this date in Luceti, and the first time in his life since carving the words upon his pocket watch that he's met it without Alphonse. That's probably what hurts the most, this time. No closer to getting home, no closer to regaining their bodies, even though he knows that he's only a day away from victory when he goes home. The second worst part is that he's only one day past an experiment that stole those memories from him- that he had, in fact, forgotten. Hadn't even known what the watch or the date upon it even meant.

Tch... stupid place. For the first time in a while, he hates it again.

He's going to keep up with the annual tradition anyway, for Al's sake as much as his, so tonight at the back of House #23, some time after dinner, Edward will be seated at a campfire, occasionally tossing logs into the flames, with a collection of snacks, some books, and notebook paper piled around him to get some work done. He'll be there all night, so any nighthawks or curious passerbys are free to stop in and see what's up.]

Comments

[pantheraleo]

[A pair of eyes will be watching Edward from somewhere in the dark. They gleam as they reflect the flickering light of the fire. Like some predator lying in wait. Which really isn't too far from the truth.

Simba knows that fire is dangerous, but it seems like this human has it contained. He remains where he is, unsure whether to approach or not.]

[automailed]

[Edward doesn't notice at first, too focused on what he's working on at the time, but before long the reflected light in Simba's eyes catches his attention and he abruptly stands up.]

I don't know who's watching, but I can see you, so you might as well come out. [...] And if you're that damn bear again and you're looking for a fight, I'm gonna make you regret it. Today's not a good day for this.

[pantheraleo]

[Oh. Simba's ears fold back and he ducks his head at that. Oops. Guess he's really not that good at the whole sneaking and stalking thing yet. So he just... awkwardly steps forward into the light, his tail swaying slowly behind him as he tries not to meet Edward's gaze.]

Um... sorry.

[i_speak_softly]

[Having recovered somewhat from experiment-induced illness, but still needing time to think about things, Don is out walking around the village this evening. The hour is not yet very late when he comes upon a campfire.]

[It's not dancing fireflies, but it's still interesting. Don approaches, trying not to do the accidental-sneaking-up thing.]

[automailed]

[Sup, science turtlebro. Edward hears him in the dark, watching for a moment until it becomes clearer who it is, then lifts a hand in a casual greeting, nodding his head.]

Hey.

[i_speak_softly]

[You look familiar, but it will take a few minutes for Don to figure out from where.]

Hi.

[Gestures to the ground - can he join you?]

[savedtheworld]

[Aang doesn't usually go out much at night and tends to stick with early hours. But with everything that happened in the last shift, he finds himself feeling like talking an introspective walk around the area after family dinner at Avatar House. He does make sure Ikki's alright before heading off and is wary as ever of dangers like vampires.

And he manages to make his way by the area of House 23 - once he recognizes a campfire in the area, he'll be cautiously approaching. Was it that odd hippie woman again?]

[automailed]

[Hippie, pft. Nope, just Edward. He's taking a break from his studies, having transmuted the side panel on his automail into a long, thin rod, and is currently roasting a marshmallow on the tip of it. He's also kind of lost in thought.]

[savedtheworld]

[It will become apparent that this isn't the amnesia'd version of Dana Scully when he draws closer. No, this is a different blonde. He smiles as he recognizes Ed and draws closer.]

Hey, Ed! [...And then he notices the state of his arm.] Is your arm okay?

action;

[dragoneer]

[Hiccup and Toothless are strolling by house 23 when he notices the smoke. It triggers his memory of seeing something similar a long while back--huh. May have been a whole year, even. Curious, the pair wander back to see Edward seating by himself and...it's even more familiar. With one glaring exception.

No Al.]

Hey, Ed. [He's wondering if he should have left well enough alone now, but too late for that.] Want some company?

action;

[automailed]

Mm. [Edward frowns, sitting quietly without a real response for a long moment, then shuffles over to make room on his log so Hiccup can sit down. Toothless gets a slight lift of one hand in greeting. Sup, dragon.]

Sure, if you want. Nothing exciting going on, though.

action;

[dragoneer]

[Hiccup moves to sit, shrugging a bit at Ed's answer while Toothless gives him a smug look and settles down next to the fire.]

I dunno if I'd say that. What are you working on?

[installing]

[Winry quietly joins him. At first she stands behind his right shoulder, and watches the flames. She knows what this means, and she won't put up a fuss for having a fire in the back yard. Instead the girl takes a seat beside him with a blanket folded in her lap for when the night grows cold, and a cup of hot chocolate to offer to him.]

[automailed]

[Edward glances over, quiet for a moment with tightly pursed lips, then accepts the hot chocolate with a murmured thanks. He's not really sure what to say, so he just makes room for her and goes back to watching the flames. There really is something therapeutic and hypnotic about an open flame.]

[installing]

[Words don't need to be said. Winry allows the moment to be silent aside from the crackling of the fire. The flames intrance her aswell, and gently she scoots closer to him - close enough so that she can lean on his shoulder a little.]

[windofgod]

[One curious passerby here, mainly seeing the smoke from a later-night snack run. Maron will poke her head around the house, hoping to not see a forest fire--

but instead, a blonde at the fire. That was a relief! It was just a camp fire. She'll approach with some caution, mainly because it's probably their house and she's kind of on private property, but... there's at least a smile on her face.]

I was worried a forest fire had started back here. I'm glad to see that's not the case here.

[automailed]

[Edward looks over at the sound of her voice, lifting a brow.]

No, just a campfire. Sorry for scaring you like that.

[windofgod]

No, it's all right! I didn't want to just walk on by when someone's home could be in trouble. I didn't mean to intrude on your property, of course.

[zorichan]

[The campfire actually draws Zoro out of the woods, giving him a point of light to focus on in the dark. He'd been circling for so long, he was starting to think there were no villages nearby. He approaches the house warily enough but hurries closer to the light when he realizes that there's only one... lady?... sitting by the fire.

He has a big, white katana strapped to his back and a proud but hungry expression on his face.] Hey, lady! Are you cookin' something? [He absent-mindedly runs a hand across his face, smearing mud all over his left cheek. Oops.]

[automailed]

[.......lady... oh god, you're just asking for trouble, Zoro.]

You better not be talking to me, brat.

[What the hell is he doing with that big sword?]

[zorichan]

[......... woah. That was... not a lady's voice.

It takes Zoro a moment to put two and two together.]

O-OH um s-sorry. I just thought... I. Uh.

[presumablyalone]

[Seto's doing his usual walk around the village tonight since it's not a bad night out when he spots a light through the trees. It's not something he usually comes across so he goes to investigate with flashlight in hand and...

Well what do you know. Ed may see the dull light that's scanning the ground if he's looking up before Seto pops out of the darkness and trees.]

Ah, so it's you, Ed.

[automailed]

[Edward glances over, the light attracting his attention, then lifts a hand to greet Seto as he approaches. He's not surprised to be getting visitors with such a large bonfire, but he hasn't seen Seto for a while.]

Hey, Seto. What're you doing out tonight?

[avaricious]

[At some point when Ed has stopped looking up at the fire, Ling will take a seat. Right beside him. Holding out a stick with a sausage on it. Tradition, after all.]

Nothing like the great outdoors to build up an appetite, eh?

[automailed]

[WHAT THE FU- oh, Ling. He should really stop being surprised by this kind of thing.]

I'd agree, but going by experience, your appetite is just as big in or out.