[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

[installing]

Sure, but you aren't all the time. And it's not like we haven't done this before.

[automailed]

...Well, don't say I never gave you an out.

[His hand tightens ever-so-slightly on her shoulder, though, a brief squeeze even though he knows she's not going anywhere. He definitely appreciates her presence here.]

[installing]

[Winry cups his cheek in her hand, and guides his face to hers. Their eyes meet, and she looks up at him.]

Don't be a dummy.
[And then she offers him a small, but supportive smile. She knows this is important to him, and to be alone here... it wouldn't be good. She'll stay out here all night if she has to.]

[automailed]

[He meets her eyes - and her smile - with a surprised look, though in retrospect he knows he shouldn't be surprised at all. He can't help it, though, because she still manages to catch him off guard with this stuff. The smallest thing can get him blushing, but at the same time, it's... definitely encouraging. Even if it's an insult.

He knows when she doesn't mean it, by now, even if arguing is an easy dodge from what she's really trying to say.]

Ha... who's a dummy?

[installing]

Who do you think?

[Without warning she leans in close, and plants a soft kiss on his cheek. She doesn't need to be giving a chance to leave. She stays here not out of obligation, but out of love. Even if she wasn't dating Ed he's important to her. She wouldn't leave him alone.]

[automailed]

[To his credit, he doesn't flip out at the sudden contact. He blushes, of course - if wouldn't be him if he didn't - but in the time since they'd officially hooked up, he's actually gotten better at the whole physical-touch thing. Shy isn't the same thing as uncomfortable, after all.

That, though... is that the first time she's done that? He has to really resist the urge to lift a hand to his cheek - the right one is still wound around her shoulders - but he does turn to face her, looking surprised. Is that like- an invitation, or- is he supposed to do something? Oh geez...]

[installing]

Why would I leave when the person I want to be with is right here?

[automailed]

[Well, he doesn't really have a good answer to that one, but he tends to say stupid things when he's flustered, so-]

I don't know... automail stuff?

[installing]

[She frowns, grabs his cheek, and tugs.]

Moron! Dummy! Idiot!

[automailed]

[HRNGH. Yeah he kind of asked for that.]

Owowow, leggo! I take it back!

[installing]

[She lets go, and leans in close. Stupid Ed and his stupid words with his stupid face.]

I know how to prioritize. ["I wouldn't leave you alone like this." Winry kisses him again, a little closer to his lips - still just a peck though.]

1/3

[automailed]

[For a long moment, he seems frozen in place. She's- she's kissing him. Kinda. Edging closer. What she's working towards is pretty obvious, even for someone as thick as him - well, okay, it took the pattern for him to notice it - but he can't seem to get himself to move. Shouldn't he- you know- kiss back? Or- or do- something, besides just- sit there-

....

But what if she's not ready? What if he's not ready? Sure, she'd been waiting all this time for him (apparently) and he's been thinking-but-not-thinking about it for a long time too (without accepting it), and they've already done the hard part (confessing and whatnot), so this should be...

...easy...

...shit, he can't do this.]

2/3

[automailed]

[.............

NO

NO, YOU KNOW WHAT

HE'S DOING THIS

HE'S TOTALLY FREAKING DOING THIS

HE'S DOING THIS LIKE A GODDAMNED MAN]

3/3

[automailed]

[.......he's doing this.]

1/3

[installing]

[He... he actually kissed her. She thought she'd have to make the first move on the lips, but... he actually went through with it.]

2/3

[installing]

[However he was obviously not very experienced, and the kiss is a bit awkward. Winry tilts her head slightly to make the kiss more comfortable. She'll press a little deeper against him, and a pleased hum sits in her throat. She's so happy.]

3/3

[installing]

[After a long moment Winry pulls away. She's pretty sure he'll need to take a breath after that. She smiles up at him, almost glowing with joy. They finally kissed, and it was all (almost) him.]

[automailed]

[As he draws back, he can't help but look pretty damn shellshocked. Her smile - how happy she looks - is encouraging, and his lips are almost tingling, and- and it was actually- it was nice. Good. Really good.

Great.

Thank god she knew what she was doing, because he really didn't. But he can get behind this kissing thing, once he gets used to it being okay to do.]

.....S... so. That was...

[God, she looks beautiful, smiling like that.]

[installing]

A kiss. Did you like it?

[automailed]

It was... uh... [Okay? No, that'll probably get him punched? Weird? ...Probably that too. Tingly? That sounds dumb. Wet? ...Gross.]

...Yeah.

[SAFE AND HONEST IS BEST?]

[installing]

Well maybe if you're good and don't act like a moron it'll happen more often.

I mean, if you liked it that is.

[automailed]

I-I- [How is he supposed to respond to that!? First she's calling him a moron and then offering more kissing... that's just...] I think we have really different ideas of what a "moron" acts like.

[installing]

[Winry laughs at that.] Fine, fine.

Just be yourself. That's how you got me to fall in love with you.

poor winry

[automailed]

[...D... uh... did she just...]

Wh-what?

[Oh god, she said it so easily, how does she manage that kind of thing? He's probably acting like a moron now by looking so dumbfounded, but he really isn't used to this at all.]

1/2

[installing]

[Wait did she just- Was she just the first person to say "love" in- Oh.]

I-I- w-well! I mean we've- And you- [Oh god how does she make this stop-]