That's right, we're back to the Central plotline! This is just a little baby update, to tide us over until I finish the next two installments-which are a lot longer and way more complicated than I realized they would be when I started writing. You'll...you'll see what I mean when they're ready.
This one gets its title from "Paying Off The Happiness" by illuminati hotties, a song about being a millennial in the city with a ton of debt, and also about the complicated business of trying to make up for emotional and material things with, uh, more emotional and material things. For our purposes let's focus on the latter.
Thank you once again for your super sweet reviews, I appreciate them so so much!
Just the other day I asked, "Could we kick it?"
You looked away and kept your answer encrypted
I've made a habit out of shuffling savings,
And standing toe-to-toe I think we're faking it fine
All this emotional debt's got me so lost
Mmm-I'm stuck with payin' it all off
"Whoa, look at you in your uniform!"
"Yeah, yeah," Ed looked away, scratching his neck uncomfortably. "Hawkeye said I had to wear it for appearances since the Fuhrer's overseeing things today."
"Have you owned this the whole time?" Winry asked, rubbing her eyes. She was standing in the doorway to her hotel room, still in pyjamas, while Edward was standing in the hall looking like—well, looking like a soldier. "I thought state alchemists got to wear whatever they wanted."
"Usually, yeah, but it depends on context. On an actual battlefield they make you wear the uniform, and if something formal is happening or if you're doing any kind of promotion-grubbing, paper-pushing administrative crap you do too. All the career soldier types wear 'em."
"Right, like Major Armstrong."
"Ugh, don't mention that guy. It's too early in the morning," Ed said, grimacing. "Anyway, no, I just got this stupid thing from the lieutenant. The last time I actually had to be in uniform was like three years ago."
"Huh," Winry said, bemused. "Well, it doesn't look half bad."
It was early Friday morning. The day before, they'd gotten off the train, dropped their things at the hotel, and Ed had been picked up and driven directly to Central Command for a full day of meetings. Winry had spent the day visiting Gracia and Elicia, and then Ed had joined them all for dinner. He'd been reluctant to go, remembering what it had been like the last time he'd been at the Hughes' house, but ultimately it went well.
"Easy for you to say. This jacket's made with one hundred percent wool from home, so naturally it's insanely itchy and it's like a billion degrees."
"Well, thank you for making such a noble sacrifice for this great country," she said, smirking.
"Okay, okay," he replied. "Anyway, I have to go in a sec, but I just wanted to tell you the plan."
"The plan?"
"Yup. So I should be out of the meeting and back here by five-thirty at the latest, and then I'll come back here and change and pick you up for dinner."
"Pick me up? We're not just eating in the hotel restaurant?"
"Nope," Ed said, grinning. "I've got a whole thing planned. I got a restaurant recommendation from Breda, Havoc and Hawkeye, which means it's definitely gonna be good."
"Oh! O-okay."
"Yeah, so go ahead and do whatever you feel like until then—I've got a friend who can get you into the main library if you want, the number's with the front desk. And they've got your per diem waiting there too, which is apparently government for 'lunch money.'"
"I get lunch money? Wow."
"Yeah! This is all on the president's dime, apparently, so no need to go easy," Ed said, grinning. "Might as well order some room service for breakfast, too. "
"Wow," Winry said, giggling. "I wish Ling and Lanfan were here to appreciate this."
"Man, those two would bankrupt the entire country if Grumman let them!" Ed said, rolling his eyes. "Anyway…just be ready for six, I guess."
"Alright," Winry said brightly. "So the restaurant—is it really fancy? What should I wear?"
"Uh," Ed had turned and was about to leave already. "I guess a dress or whatever? Anyway, see ya."
"That's not enough information!" she yelled down the hall after him as he strode away.
"Gotta go, see you tonight!" he called back, and then he rounded the corner at the end of the hall and disappeared from view.
Back soon with more! Let me know what you think. :)
