March 2nd, 1962
Sara Elric tried not to laugh when she found Alyse, bright eyed and dreamy, sipping tea in the staff lounge that their offices happened to share. "Are you ever in a bad mood? It's almost inhuman," she teased as she headed for the coffee machine.
"Only when I have reason to be," Alyse replied lightly, but with a slightly smug look on her face.
Suspicion piqued, Sara glanced back at her cousin. No, no rings on the left hand, no obvious other new accoutrements. "So are you going to make me have investigations run a report or are you just going to tell me why you're bubbly enough to make soda look flat?" Given how matter-of-fact Alyse was about everything else, Sara would bet it had to do with her long-time serious boyfriend, Captain Vince Miller.
"Nothing confirmed," Alyse admitted as she stood, smoothed her skirt, and rinsed her cup in the sink. "But I have my suspicions that tomorrow night Vince is going to ask me to marry him."
"So you've been doing some investigative work of your own then," Sara chuckled. "And just how do you know that?" Not that it would surprise her in the least.
"Well, we've been dating for almost four years," Alyse began logically. "It will be that next month. Then, yesterday, he invited me to dinner at Chez Aire tomorrow night."
Sara nodded. Chez Aire was one of the nicer places in town; one of Alyse's favorites too as she recalled. Her cousin always did have rather refined tastes. She didn't insist on expensive things, but she definitely enjoyed them when they were offered. "Okay, so a romantic dinner at a fancy place; someplace Vince almost never goes. What else?"
Now her cousin was positively glowing. "That, and Linda, over in accounting, saw him in a jewelry store the other day," Alyse grinned. "She only saw him go in and out, but he spent quite a while in there."
Now that seemed like a useful piece of information. "You're sure he was shopping for you and not himself?" Sara couldn't help teasing.
"Vince doesn't wear jewelry," Alyse sniffed. "And the timing seems just a little interesting don't you think?"
Sara shrugged as she poured her cup of coffee and added cream and sugar. "You have a point there," she added, then smiled as she picked up the cup. "I hope you're right though." Vince made Alyse truly happy and they were clearly a well match pair from what she'd seen, both at work and at family functions. "Are you going to be able to act surprised?"
Alyse chuckled. "As long as I'm deliriously happy I don't think he'll notice."
"And will you be?" Sara teased.
"Absolutely."
When Edward got home from Headquarters that evening, he was unsurprised to find Tore sitting on the couch, four books spread out in front of him, taking notes with a focused look on his face. Damp hair attested to a recent shower, which Ed knew meant Tore had spent the afternoon drilling and working out, or possibly doing some very intense alchemy. It was always one of those.
Ed had to admit that Tore was definitely buckling down and taking his new goal seriously. Sure he still spent time hanging out with his friends, but he seemed to have set himself a schedule that worked for him, and within the rules Ed and Winry had set in regards to working with everyone else. Not that those were difficult. Tore still had his usual chores, he had to check in with them twice a day, and he had a ten o'clock curfew every night except Fridays and Saturdays, when Ed had relented and allowed it to be eleven at Winry's urging. Tore was a social animal; he needed some time to interact with other people when they were actually available.
Other than that, Tore seemed to have set himself a routine of getting up, doing a light workout, spending a good part of the morning studying alchemy and doing his chores, and then the afternoon working on practical alchemy application and heavier physical training. Late afternoons were for finishing off anything he hadn't gotten done in the morning, and then the evenings were his own. Sometimes he kept working, but often he would head out to spend time with friends. Ed knew he'd been on a few dates since his grounding had ended with the start of the new year, but nothing serious.
With Lia working at the High School, not reenrolling Tore hadn't been too difficult He was, for all official records, being homeschooled. It was easier than messing with truant officers or trying to explain how alchemy training fit the situation.
Tore glanced up at Ed and gave him a nod of hello before looking back down at his book. "Good day?"
"For me," Ed chuckled as he hung up his coat and came into the room, heading for the kitchen. "President Rehnquist requested that I run a few extra fitness sessions for officers who didn't quite pass this year's PT elements on their physicals last month." Alan Rehnquist ran a tighter more by-the-book ship than either Mustang or Breda had done, at least on that level. Ed had been perfectly happy to add the three times a week session to his schedule for the next couple of months.
Tore snickered. "Any State Alchemists in that line up?"
"Not a one," Ed grinned. No, the State Alchemists spent far too much time in the continued alchemical combat training – even if their position as an alchemist was not one likely to ever require combat of them – for them to get out of condition.
"As if you don't already get enough exercise," Winry chuckled as she appeared in the kitchen doorway holding leeks and a few carrots. She stood there as Ed leaned in and gave her a kiss. "Just don't kill anyone."
"Oh I won't," Ed assured her. "Torturing them is more fun anyway. What's for dinner?"
"Roasted chicken and vegetables with pasta," Winry replied. "For anyone who helps out."
Ed heard a book slam shut, and chuckled as Tore bounced up, grinning.
"I'm on it!" Tore ducked into the kitchen.
"I think he's hungry," Ed laughed as he slipped past Winry too. "So am I!"
"Then you can handle the meat," Winry told him. "Tore, if you could start by peeling and dicing up those potatoes I'd appreciate it."
"Where are Lia and Ethan?" Ed asked as he got to work. Usually they were home in the evenings and Lia always got home before he did.
"Having dinner over at Will and Ren's tonight," Winry informed him as they all got to work. "They were having a few friends over for games and drinks."
"Sounds like fun. So what are you working on today?" Ed turned and asked Tore conversationally as he started seasoning the chicken. Without the formal teacher-student relationship, Ed had found that his and Tore's interactions were less strained. If Tore asked his opinion on something he was certainly happy to give it, but for the most part Tore was proving that he could hold himself to task and without Ed doing it, a lot of the tensions had been relieved.
"Looking into how the Xing use electricity for medical applications," Tore explained as he peeled the potatoes. "They have a few methods where it's used to alter or effect compounds, as well as using very small or controlled amounts to affect the body; restarting the heart for example. They've even got some highly experimental stuff that involves brain functions, though it's only a small part of that. Ren was telling me about it and gave me the book."
Oh really? "Sounds fascinating," Ed replied. "Mind if I borrow it when you're done?"
"Not if Ren doesn't," Tore smirked. "I don't expect to be able to do any of it. Not without a medical degree or something for the harder stuff, but a couple of the simpler things could be really useful."
"Defibrillation," Ed nodded. He had heard of doctors using electricity to restart patients' hearts before. The problem was having that kind of equipment on hand and in time to do any good for a patient. "An alchemist with that kind of ability would be very useful in an accident or combat situation."
Tore nodded. "That was my thought. It's not trying to resurrect someone technically, so it doesn't seem to count as human transmutation if you can catch them before they're really dead and the soul separates from the body."
"Sounds like you've been talking to Will too," Ed commented. Will's primary research involved the nature of the soul and how that related to alchemy after all.
"Apparently this is something they've both been researching," Tore admitted, grinning. "I wanted to make sure none of that skirted, you know, dangerous territory."
"Smart move," Ed agreed. It definitely needed to be considered but he could see how it differed from human transmutation. He was also glad Tore was showing a little caution. He still had his days, but all in all he acted less like a teenager now than he had this time last year. Being sixteen, Ed reflected, was as educational for Tore as it had been for Ed, if less traumatic.
They all worked together until dinner was in the oven, then Tore retreated upstairs with his books, cleaning up the living room as he went.
"Do you think he'll be good enough?" Winry asked.
Ed turned around and smiled at her. "It's never been a question of if he could be good enough," he replied. "Just how bad he wants something. He's got the potential to be a great alchemist if he'll just put the effort in. And you know, I think he just might make it."
Winry smiled back and stepped in, her arms going around his waist in a hug; she rested her head against his chest. "Does he know that?"
Ed put his arms around her in return. "I think he's figuring it out. Sixteen year old guys sometimes take a while to get things pounded into their skulls."
"Only sixteen year olds?" Winry chuckled softly.
"Well I get my mental poundings at a vastly accelerated rate thanks to you," Ed smirked. Her hair was tickling his nose.
"And discounted rate," Winry teased.
Ed looked down at her, despite the fact all he could see at the moment was her head. "You've been charging me?"
Winry stood straight again, grinning. "You have no idea how long your running tab is."
"So when do I have to worry about paying it back?" Ed asked warily.
"I'm really not sure that's possible," Winry assured him. "But that's okay. If you ever have to return it in kind I'm not sure I want it back."
In kind? "Like that would ever happen," Ed kissed her again briefly. "You always get me faster than anyone else, usually even me."
"And I'm lucky I got you," Winry replied.
"Even with everything you've been through because of me?" Ed already knew the answer, but sometimes he just needed to hear it.
Winry was always glad to oblige. "Even then. Though," she giggled, "It wouldn't hurt if you helped by setting the table and feeding the dogs."
Ed mock-glared at her a moment, then laughed. "I don't even need to think to get that hint."
"Wow, could it get any mushier in here?" A sarcastic, but amused, quip came from behind them. Apparently Tore was back downstairs.
"Is that a challenge?" Ed glanced over his shoulder.
"Oh, no, not at all," Tore held up both hands defensively, though he was grinning broadly. "I thought it was a little warm down here is all. But I can go hide somewhere for a while if you, you know, need some privacy." The insinuation lay thickly in his words.
"Smart-ass," Ed snorted. "Just for that you feed the dogs."
Tore saluted smartly, ruining the perfect formation with a jaunty wave and a grinning "Yes, Sir." He turned and headed for the back door to let the dogs in.
Ed shook his head as he reluctantly let go of Winry and went to pull out the plates. As much of a pain as the kid could be sometimes, he finally seemed to be making use of his potential in a way that would do him some good in life. No wonder Mustang always wanted to kick my ass. It wasn't a new realization, but it always amused Ed to find himself on the other side of the situation.
March 3rd, 1962
Alyse found it difficult not to get too excited as she prepared for that evening's dinner with Vince. She was glad it was a fancier place for an evening meal, because it gave her an excuse to wear the midnight blue dress with just a hint of silver shimmer. She left her hair down tonight, and went with simple silver dangly earrings she owned with matching necklace and bracelets. Strappy dark blue low-heeled shoes completed the ensemble. As usual, Alyse was pleased with the result. As just a final touch, she put on a hint of the perfume she had that she knew he liked.
The look on Vince's face when he picked her up said he was also pleased with the result. "You look… gorgeous," he complimented, swallowing as he helped her into her coat.
"Thank you," she smiled, closing the coat around her and taking his arm. "You look handsome this evening."
"Thanks," Vince grinned back. 'Let's go. I'd hate to be late."
Which, of course, they weren't. They never were given they both were very good at being punctual, and Alyse was by nature. The waiter led them to a table for two along the wall with the large picture windows. The sun was setting outside, and Alyse could see the river that ran through town and the small park across the street from that.
They ordered an appetizer, and Vince ordered wine. Alyse smiled. She knew the vintage. It was a good wine. Not the best, but then she knew full well that no Captain could afford the highest range Chez Aire offered. She didn't mind. He was smiling, looking just a tad more attentive perhaps than usual. He couldn't seem to keep his eyes off her tonight. Not while they ordered or made small talk.
Finally though, he seemed to get the strength up to get to the point. "Alyse, there's something I wanted to talk about."
Alyse nodded, trying not to smile too broadly. "Well go ahead. We can talk about anything can't we?"
"Well yeah, of course." His nervousness was kind of cute; especially how he was trying manfully to hide it.
"What is it, Vince?" She finally prodded with a chuckle.
"Well, we've been together for a while," he began with a weak smile, "and it's been great. We get along really well and you're amazing. You're pretty and talented and clever."
"Flatterer," she giggled. 'Not that I mind."
"Alyse I… well I've wanted to say something for a little while now," Vince started again, then looked slightly embarrassed, smiling nervously.
"So say it?" Alyse urged gently.
Vince nodded. "Alyse…. I've met someone else."
"I – you what?" Her entire body went cold. That wasn't what was coming! He was supposed to propose he...was Vince…her….
Now he looked sheepish. "It's true. I-"
"No!" She stared at him, the word coming out before she could think. "What are you saying? I… I thought…."
"Oh, no, sweetie, don't cry," he reached out to offer her a napkin, which she shoved away forcefully.
"Don't call me that!" She glared at him. "How can you? What do you mean a while anyway? Have you been seeing someone else?"
"No, I haven't," Vince replied with surprising calm. He seemed to have gotten a grip on himself. "But I've wanted to. We met a few months ago and she's… well I'd like to get to know her better. But I would never cheat on a girl so…"
"So you're dumping me instead," Alyse nodded, angered by the tears in her eyes as much as by what was going on. "I get it. I love you! Is that not enough for you?"
"Alyse, please…" he looked pained. "You're great! You're easy to talk to, and funny, and kind… but I don't feel the way you do about me, and it's not fair to you to pretend I do. I thought it might go there… but it didn't."
Alyse willed herself not to sniffle with everything she had. "And this other woman?"
He winced at the phrase. Served him right. "I don't know but it's…it's different. It's not you, Alyse, it's-"
"Don't you dare finish that statement!" Alyse cut him off again. How could this be happening? But it was, and it was like being doused with ice water. "I… I need to use the restroom." She snatched up her handbag and retreated to the ladies room with as much decorum as she could manage. No reason to be seen running, for everyone to notice….
In the bathroom she bawled her eyes out. She could think of no better description for the sobbing mess she found herself in. It wasn't the first time she'd had a guy break up with her, but she'd never been in love before; she'd never been in a long term relationship like this one. She had been so sure this was it and now…. Now she had nobody.
She stayed there for nearly fifteen minutes trying to get herself under control. She couldn't hide in the bathroom forever. Besides, she was an Elric! She wasn't going to just hide like some pathetic loser in the restroom. Wiping her face dry, checking to make sure she didn't look horrible, and then coming her mussed hair, she stepped out of the bathroom and started to make her way back to the table.
She froze the moment the table came into view. Through the arched doorway back into the dining area, she could see Vince still sitting there, one hand fidgeting absently with his wrist-watch. The watch she suddenly remembered him mentioning having broken last week. So that's it. What an idiot she had been! Vince looked stressed out, concerned, and very uncomfortable sitting by himself. Their wine had come. His glass was empty.
Well good. I hope you feel bad about it. Perhaps it wasn't a charitable thought, but she would have much preferred if he had dropped the bomb on her somewhere more private. He had likely hoped the public setting would keep her from embarrassing herself with hysterics; or rather, to keep him from having to deal with them.
Well, that was fine. If Vince was done with her, she wanted nothing more of him. In the moment that he looked up and spotted her, she spun away and headed for the door. There was no way she was going back to that table. She had put her heart into that relationship, everything she had into making him feel appreciated, loved, into communication; what had gone wrong?
She pushed the thought from her mind as she hurried out the door into the chilly night air. Her eyes were tearing again as she walked quickly back towards her apartment. She didn't want an answer. It didn't matter anyway. It was over. If everything she had was not enough for Vince, than that was his problem.
Alyse hoped that very soon she would really believe that.
