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Edward?

[ roy sounds exhausted, right down to the bone. still, as always, there's an air of authority to his tone, and he seems to be ignoring how tired he is in lieu of, you know, reaching out to everyone to check on their status instead of focusing on what's actually wrong.

not that there is anything wrong. he's 100% in control and nothing is wrong, obviously. but he needs to know if this illness took anything from anyone else, and if it did, there will be a special hell to pay the idiot witch who dragged them to some diseased planet without their consent. but he also doesn't want to admit what's wrong with him, yet, because that opens an entirely different can of worms, and --

he's overthinking it. just ask the damn question. ]

Are you alright?

Uh...

[There's some stuff to unpack here. 1) Mustang hasn't called him Edward to his face in literal years, 2) Mustang is actively and openly checking on his wellbeing instead of delegating which is also pretty rare, and 3--]

Shouldn't I be the one asking you? You sound like shit.

[ . . . ]

You're fine.

[ with only a slight exasperated sigh; at least that sounds more familiar. ed is fine. if he was missing something, he would certainly tell roy, or at least not be so nonchalant in conversation. the fullmetal alchemist doesn't exactly hide his feelings.

it's a relief, to be sure. finally, some good news. ]

Good to know that even the Black Death can't incapacitate the Fullmetal Alchemist.

Is that what we're calling it now?

[Pretty serious. It's a fitting name, at this point, and there's an edge of concern creeping into Edward's tone; he's seen Winry and Hughes get sicker and sicker alongside the rest of the population who've progressed in a bad way, and he hates not being able to do a damn thing for anyone.

At worst all he has is a little sniffle, and while he's glad to be up on his feet and helping, it doesn't help with the guilt any.]

What's wrong? And don't try to bullshit me with "I'm fine" or whatever.

[ a soft 'hm' at ed's first question; its' what roy's calling it, and he's sticking to it. but at his second question, there's a long (rather obvious) silence before he sighs. ]

I'm still affected by whatever wreaked havoc in this place. [ because roy refuses to believe that this is permanent. it can't be. ] The next phase of the illness, apparently, is to rob you of something. I'm not sure how far-reaching it is, or what is affected, but I can't get around by myself for the time being, until it's fixed.

[ he pauses. why can't he just say it? speaking it into reality, maybe. ]

It's nothing I can't handle. You don't need to worry.

[ it's not i'm fine. so he satisfied edward's demand. ]

[Satisfied the demand, perhaps, but not his knowledge-seeking nature. Sorry not sorry, Mustang.]

You being evasive about it just makes me wonder more. So what'd you lose?

[STOP MAKING HIM WORRY ABOUT YOU, ASSHOLE, HE HATES IT]

[ what a stubborn brat. ]

My eyesight.

[ neutrally, without much fanfare. edward wanted the truth, and so he got it. and, again, the memory bubbles to the surface of the last time this happened, except it had been edward who realized roy was blind, first.

irrelevant. this is different. roy pushes it aside, and continues speaking. ]

I haven't been able to see since the fever broke.

[What the fuck. Again? At least it doesn't involve the Gate this time, small consolation that may be. Once is definitely enough- only idiots like him should be the ones to open it again and again.

He's still kind of pissed that Roy left out all those important details, but now's probably not the time. His tone belies his anger, though- it's been barely any time since he arrived and he's already seething at what this place is doing to the people he gives a shit about. The people who run this place aren't winning any favours.]

You want anything done?

[Roy's not one to ask for help, exactly, but he's never hesitated to use Edward as his work dog.]

[ ed, volunteering for work. he must be worried. ]

Me? No, no. Nothing I can think of.

[ roy doesn't want ed poking the proverbial bear that is astoria, nor getting extraordinarily involved in things he likely shouldn't. particularly because this specific loss is illness-related, and will wear off on its own. hopefully. ]

I've endured worse. [ the gate, indeed, had been worse. not that edward knos about that. so he thinks. and his tone because somewhat sardonic, dry: ] Besides, this gives me an excuse to sit around all day, seeing as I'll run into a wall otherwise.

Of course you'd use it to slack off...

[It's kind of a relief that Roy's still with it enough to be a lazy butthead like usual. If he actually asked for something, Edward might've been more concerned.]

Well, whatever, I'll keep you posted if anything changes. So you'd better do the same, got it?

Naturally.

[ there's a certain laziness attached to the tone, but roy won't be spending his time idle. edward doesn't need to know how he can't sleep; sitting around and "doing nothing" is better than allowing any other ideas to prosper. ]

But I'll let you know if the situation changes. I'm certain it's temporary, and regardless of how long it lasts, I have Hawkeye. No one will get the jump on me.

[ :') ]

Don't do anything to make her worry about you. She has enough to do already.

[BEHAVE YOURSELF, MUSTANG]

[ there's just the sound of an exasperated sigh. ]

I can't stop existing.

[ because honestly that's what it would take for riza to stop worrying about him. ]

But duly noted.

You can try!

[that woman does not deserve this

and yes he knows he's a hypocrite and constantly makes Winry worry but THAT IS NOT THE POINT]

Are you done?

[ if it were literally any other superior officer, the question may have indicated a crossed line. but as it's roy, he just sounds exasperated. ]

She's perfectly capable of taking care of herself. [ which isn't the point, so roy adds: ] And I don't worry her on purpose.

[ so there!!! ]

She'll be fine. So will I. I'm sure you have more important things to worry over.

ACATA | IC CONTACT

( voice ) backdated to about two days ago or something idk man!!!

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