Ch. 2
Opposing Sides
"Ah Roy, how've you been?" a thunderous voice boomed as Roy quietly sat down to dinner.
"Roy's been slipping in school, Roger," Roy's mother sharply told her husband.
"Nonsense Merideth," Roger laughed. "While a soldier's mind is important, knowledge didn't win wars. It's man power, brute strength. That's what makes us great."
"That's not the point," Merideth's eyebrow twitched as she sat down after passing out the food. "His teacher believes he's been studying alchemy."
"Son, have you been studying alchemy?" Roger turned to Roy, stuffing a meat-tipped fork in his mouth.
"No," Roy replied.
"See? He says he hasn't," Roger jabbed his fork towards Roy. "That's good enough for me."
"Roger!" Merdieth scolded. "He's obviously lying!"
"Well, what do you expect me to do?" Roger spread out his hands.
"Discipline him like a father should!" Merdieth yelled.
"Oh, yeah, that's real smart. Let someone who's never here do the disciplining," Roy commented dryly, putting a piece of his meal into his mouth.
"Don't start with me Roy Arthur Mustang!" his mother bellowed at him. "You're on my last nerve."
"But unfortunately not your last leg," Roy added.
"Roy!" his father scolded sharply. "That is no way to talk to your mother. Understand me?"
"Yes sir," Roy muttered and reluctantly stuck some food in his mouth.
The three ate in silence for a while. Merdieth brewed and glared at Roy while she ate, sticking her fork into her food with precision without once looking down at it. Roger eagerly at his food, not caring about the feelings of the other two. Roy poked at his food, pushing it around the plate, occasionally venturing to take a nibble only to return to his previous engagement of chasing the meat around with a fork.
"Oh, I noticed that your friend Maes was back from his trip," Roger noted.
"Really?" Roy perked.
"Yeah, he was out walking around today as I drove home," Roger nodded.
"I'm going to go see him," Roy stood up from his seat and sprinted for the door.
"Roy, get back here!" Merdieth bellowed. "You're not going anywhere until you finish your-" but the door slammed behind Roy.
