July 12, 1984
Ian did his best not to feel the odd-man-out on the trip to Creta with the pile of family he was traveling with from Central. Aside from Uncle Franz, he was the only one there who wasn't traveling as part of a couple… or a full family. James and Krista reveled in the chance to spend time together with no reason to be ripped apart, so Ian rarely saw them unless they felt like being sociable, and in the evenings since Krista preferred to go to bed earlier than either James or Ian. Trisha and Roy had both of the children with them, though Rosa and Gabriel spent quite a bit of time with Franz on the train, enjoying time with their grandfather. That meant that Roy and Trisha were also rarely in evidence on the trip.
Ian did not bother to ask how they were spending their time.
Coran and Gale were also on the train with their boys, who found Ian's stories of work as an actor interesting, but not as cool as the more exciting work that James and Franz did at Central HQ. At least, the boys found it exciting.
For Ian, it was an oddly lonely trip. He regretted that he hadn't been able to get Bonnie to come with him, though he entertained himself by telling stories to Gabriel and Rosa, and his nephews, and chatting with whoever was available at any particular moment. Though, several times, he found himself waylaid by fans if he stepped out of the sleeping car the family had reserved for the trip, since they took up enough berths to make it worth it. Going down to the food car almost always took a couple of extra hours. Not that he minded too much. It was good PR to be friendly with fans when he ran into them.
When hiding in the berth, he also had time on the several day trip to read a couple of books he never seemed to get around to. But often, he worried about Ted. He didn't like the fact that his little brother had declined the option of coming out to Minxia's wedding with the rest of the family. He would be the only one not in attendance, and work or no work, Ian didn't buy the excuse that he really needed to get familiar with his new team in the military before they were sent out on their first mission.
Or maybe he did. Ian had watched his brother –the dependable one; the one who had his life together –or had before Xing- drink himself stupid over the girl who wouldn't have him. He'd listened to Ted –who he was sure didn't really remember his honest ramblings that night- lament those events, and his own guilt and surety that it really had been at least partially his fault, and his actions in the war, and that they wouldn't trust him with any real missions again. Ian wasn't sure when he had become 'the brother you can have a good drunken cry with' but he was glad it had been him, and Ted hadn't been alone in a bar.
Coran's reaction when Ian had divulged some minimal details of that night had been surprisingly unconcerned.
"You've never lost a girl you loved," Coran replied as they sat across from each other at a table on the train, drinking up-too-early morning coffee. "Or watched people suffer because you couldn't help them. Neither of us have the way Ted has," he added after a moment, though his expression was somber. Ian wondered what kinds of patients his brother had seen over the years where auto-mail hadn't been an option, or the implants had been rejected, rare as that was these days. "But this may be the way he needs to deal with it, and get over it. Throwing himself into his work is certainly better than wallowing in the guilt and letting it stop him."
"I guess I just don't see why he'd skip Minx's wedding."
"Would you want to be surrounded by happy couples?" Coran asked archly.
Now that you mention it, I'd really prefer having a girl with me, yes. "Fair enough." Ian shrugged and took a sip of coffee. "Still, it's a really big decision to sit out a major family event."
"You've got a point there. Even Urey's coming." Coran eyed him for a moment, considering. "I admit, I'm a little surprised you didn't bring a date."
"I couldn't talk anyone into coming," Ian quipped.
"You mean you couldn't talk the one you wanted into coming." Leave it to Coran to pick up on things Ian was sure he hadn't mentioned to his oldest brother. It wasn't that he didn't get along with Coran, but the years between them and their much varied lifestyles didn't make for a lot of heart-to-heart talks.
"Actually, she had perfectly good reasons for saying no," Ian admitted. "I figure there will be plenty of girls to dance with at the wedding. Even a few we're not related to," he added with a grin. "Thrakos' sisters are supposed to be very pretty, and several of their friends from college will be there."
Coran shook his head. "Well at least one of you isn't going to let it get you down."
"Hear anything from Urey lately?" Ian asked. There was a certain heaviness to Coran's tone every time that particular brother entered his thoughts.
Coran shook his head. "Not directly. I saw him the last time we went to Resembool to visit Mom and Dad a few months ago, but he doesn't usually call me. What about you?"
Given they had shared a room through most of their childhood, Ian was probably the closest to Urey, but he hated to admit how little they spoke now. "He doesn't call as often as he used to," he replied. "I happened to catch him at home the other day. I called to talk to Grandpa and he was out, but Urey answered the phone."
"Talk about anything interesting?"
"Only if you like cattle farming or ancient Drachman history. That's what the latest book he's reading is about." Ian shrugged. He had just been glad Urey was willing to chat at all. Ian was beginning to think his brother would never move on after the death of his wife, despite the years that passed. The last time he had asked Urey if he was ever going to continue with his original plan to move to Central and work helping Uncle Ethan with the alchemical production and creation of pharmaceuticals based on their own research, Urey had completely shut down on him. Ian had stopped asking after that.
"I'm glad he's coming," Coran replied after a quiet moment. "It will be good for him to get away from the house. Maybe it will shake him out of this rut."
"I hope so." Ian put on a smile. "Maybe I can convince him to have a little fun."
Coran chuckled. "Maybe. If he suffers from your kind of fun, you might break him in other ways."
Right now, Ian wasn't entirely certain that would be a bad thing.
The rest of the trip to Pylos was relatively uneventful. Ian caught a catnap and worked a little on memorizing his lines for his next project, which he would begin as soon as he got back to Central. Then he helped his brother carry all the luggage that a family of four generated –Ian required far less himself- as they were met at the train station by multiple cars, with drivers and the compliments of President Argyros.
"I could get used to this," Ian chuckled as he rode in a car with Coran, Gale, and his nephews.
"What, the glamorous life of a film star isn't like this all the time?" Coran quipped, though Ian knew his brother was teasing. He had seen Ian's relatively meager apartment. While he had gathered a few nicer comforts over the years –a new couch instead of used, a decent television, a quality mattress for his bed- he made a point of putting a good portion of his money away with each job, knowing he would need it eventually. Still, he was beginning to wonder what he was going to do with it all. A nicer apartment meant little if he didn't have someone to enjoy it with.
Still, Creta looked like it would provide him with several days of distraction. Minxia's wedding and, as he found out relatively quickly upon arrival at the Argyros family home, Thrakos' two very lovely sisters.
Ian grinned at Minxia before he looked at Gia, bowing over her hand. "I knew you were marrying into money, Minx. You didn't tell me you were marrying into a family of such beauty."
Thrakos' youngest sister flushed with pleasure, even as she straightened slightly, as if determined not to melt under his gaze.
Lori chuckled. The older sister, still young, elegant and –if Ian remembered correctly- unattached, was lovely as well.
Minxia rolled her eyes. "Careful Ian. I can assure you there's more press circling around her lately than you get at one of your premiers."
"Well I should hope so," Ian chuckled as he straightened up. "You're a lot prettier than I am, and more important. After all, you're the respected archaeologist, and it is your wedding." He was just a guest here, and he was all right with that. "Though perhaps one of these two beautiful ladies would like to show me around?"
"I could do that," Gia offered.
Ian couldn't have said why, but he found himself noticing Lori's amused look at her sister's behavior. He grinned, and turned back to Gia. "I'd like that."
July 14, 1984
"Where's Cal?"
Alyse looked away from the mountains outside the windows of the train car as Lia sat down across from her at the little table. "In our compartment," she replied. "He wanted some time to himself while the kids are occupied elsewhere." Gloria, Charlie, Eamon, Lily, and Aeddan had all gone up to the observation car, where the tables were larger, to play cards and eat lunch.
"Ethan said much the same thing," Lia admitted with a chuckle. "Though I think he's taking a nap."
"In the middle of the afternoon?"
"He's had a lot of late nights back home, thanks to work," Lia smiled as she set her cup of tea down on the table. "That, and late nights worrying about what the kids are up to." Both of their eldest were eighteen and recently graduated, and Alyse knew that meant that their lives were busy on a whole new level.
"And you don't worry?" Alyse asked.
"Oh of course I do," Lia shrugged. "But I spend all my time with teenagers. Eamon and Lily are smart, capable, and far more level-headed than most people. If I can't trust them now, I'll never get any sleep when they start college." The twins were splitting up for the first time in their lives, and both going in different directions. Alyse couldn't help but wonder how they would handle it. Lily was going to ECU, where her parents had gone, on a music scholarship, where she planned to double major in music performance and teaching. Eamon was going west; here actually, to Pylos. He had been accepted to the University's sciences program, where he was planning to study zoology.
"I can't believe they'll both be gone this fall." Alyse shook her head. "I don't know how I'll take it when Gloria goes off to college, and we still have time. I'd be a wreck if it was now."
Lia smiled and sipped her tea. "I just keep telling myself they both have more common sense and self-preservation skills than Ethan." The statement made both women laugh. "By the time Gloria graduates, you'll be fine. Cal on the other hand… how is he?" her tone shifted to a gentler one. "He seems better lately, but I know he's good at putting on an act for others."
That was certainly putting it mildly, but Alyse nodded. "Better than he was," she answered. Lia was one of the few people she could talk to openly about Cal's ongoing struggles. "Since he started exercising to focus instead of trying to sit still, he's doing better."
"Is that what he's doing now?" Lia asked. "I figured he'd want you in there too, if that was the case." There was a knowing twinkle in her eye.
At her age, Alyse refused to blush. There were reasons she had insisted on a private compartment. Gloria and Lily were sharing, and Charlie was bunked in with Eamon and Aeddan. The adult couples had their own spaces. "That's for distraction. For focus and actually thinking, being alone works better."
"I can see that."
"Traveling through West Amestris was difficult for him," Alyse admitted after a moment. "Too many memories, I think; from his childhood, and from the war with Drachma. Though he's feeling better now that we're past it." Well into Creta, nearly to Pylos, there was nothing to give him nightmares or remind him of the past he had spent years burying, but it had never died. Though Alyse knew Cal's real frustration –he hated that he needed to take medicine for this at all. He still harbored doubts over his own inner strength, and his inability to just "man up" and move on, despite knowing –she knew he knew- that it didn't work that way. Lots of soldiers –almost every State Alchemist who had been in a war that Alyse had ever met- dealt with these issues sooner or later, and to varying degrees. Alyse had refrained from saying it, only because she knew Ethan had already done so- but Cal had been taking medication for his anxieties and his post-war nightmares most of his life: they just hadn't been ones a doctor would have approved of.
Alyse didn't want him to feel like he had to take the medications for it either, but they worked. The change in Cal was impossible to miss, and it was positive. She would do anything she could to help him get to the point where the need was minimal, or not necessary at all, if such a thing were possible.
"I'm glad to hear that," Lia replied. "He should never have had to go so long without proper treatment."
"That was his own fault," Alyse pointed out. It was something she no longer felt bitter about, just sad. "At least for not being entirely forthcoming with the councilors, or they would have insisted on helping him earlier. He's admitted as much."
"They know more now than they did when we were children," Lia countered, though she nodded. "The new methods are much more productive, and the new medicines much better and less invasive. Ethan was telling me there are even some alkahestry techniques they use in Xing that are supposed to be useful in extreme cases, but they're not widely used because only a small number of alkahestrists have the ability to do them."
Alyse nodded. "I remember my father mentioning that healing involving the brain is particularly tricky and dangerous, given how complicated our minds are. That's why the treatments are rare, and usually expensive." Cal and Ethan had also apparently agreed that such severity wasn't needed in this case. Not if Cal put in the effort on his part to follow Ethan's orders, and his suggestions.
If nothing else, Cal was possibly in the best shape Alyse had seen him since his twenties and early thirties, back when they had met. That was certainly not something she was going to complain about.
"So is Randy going to ECU too?" Gloria asked Lily as the two young women poured over Cretan magazines and tourist brochures of Pylos and the surrounding areas. She tried not to be envious of her cousin, who had graduated from high school in May and was going to be vanishing off to college in a couple of short months. It was weird enough that they were leaving Eamon here at the end of the trip.
Lily looked up from a large spread that looked like ornamental gardens near the ocean. "He is," she said with a smile. "He's going to major in music too, though he doesn't seem to be able to pick between cello, guitar, and singing yet."
"Can't he do all three?" Gloria asked curiously. She had never really considered that majoring in music might be complicated.
"And keep his sanity?" Lily chuckled. "He can certainly take practicums and lessons in all of them, but as for which he may choose professionally, it takes a real virtuoso to master multiple disciplines." Still, Lily looked quite happy that her boyfriend would be going to college with her. Gloria could understand why. Randy was not only multitalented, polite, and good-natured, he was beyond average levels of cuteness. She wished more of the boys in her class had the maturity and good looks of her cousin's boyfriend.
"You'll have to scout out all the good places to hang out for me," Gloria grinned. She had every intention of going to ECU herself when she graduated –she had no doubt she would get in with her grades- and she wanted to major in journalism, particularly investigative reporting.
"When I'm not in the practice hall?" Lily chuckled. "Of course I will, though I doubt it will be hard to find the places worth hanging out. Mom and Dad pointed out several places when we went out to look at the school. I expect if we ask, your aunt and uncle will also have lots of ideas since they were there at the same time as my parents."
Whereas neither of her parents had even gone to college, which Gloria found weird, given how smart her mother was, and how good she had been reported to be in school. But then, she had known what she wanted to do, and she was good at it, and she had just gone out and done it. Her father… well, she wasn't even entirely certain her father had actually finished high school. While he had opened up a little about his less-than-shiny childhood, Gloria very much doubted she had heard everything. At least she knew his warnings came from life experience. Not that she had ever really needed them, but she could imagine they were much more impactful for Charlie. "We should ask after the wedding," Gloria suggested with a small chuckle. "I'm sure Aunt Ren is far too worried about things to think about anything else. Once we arrive, she and Mom will probably try –and fail- to keep their noses out of all the plans. Mom can't go to a wedding without helping out, even if she's not supposed to be working."
"As if you aren't just as nosy," Lily said knowingly.
"At least I don't butt in on people's plans," Gloria raised her head with dignity. "Investigating who had been egging lockers in the school was a perfectly respectable and responsible thing to do." She had managed to discover the culprits too – Roald and Trevor from the eleventh grade – and when she had reported her findings to the principal, both boys had been apprehended egg-handed. Gloria had gotten to write up the school newspaper scoop of the year, and had even won a student journalist award when the newspaper sponsor – Mrs. Phelps the history teacher – had submitted it without her knowledge. "I'm certainly not going to try and mess with the wedding. Besides, who would cause trouble at this wedding?"
"This house of yours is amazing," Ian grinned at Gia as they walked down the hallway of the second –or was it the third?- wing. Ian had stayed in some grand places, or at least worked in them for filming during his career so far, but he had never gotten to spend much time actually admiring those houses. The Argyros ancestral home was beautiful, and his tour guide just as lovely, if not more so.
Gia had been more than happy to show him around the house and the grounds. She had even offered to show him some of the more fun places to hang out around town. There were quite a number that, even to his surprise, she knew fairly well, since they allowed teenagers in –keeping the bar and dance areas separate. Ian wondered why Amestris didn't have more teen-friendly club establishments.
"Thank you," she smiled, responding in lightly accented Amestrian. She had assured him that she wanted to speak in his language, for practice, even though he could get by in at least passing Cretan. "Not that I had anything to do with that, but I enjoy living here. It's not nearly as much of a museum as the palace, but my family has collected a lot of fascinating historical treasures and artwork over the years." Her eyes lit with that expression Ian ascribed to history buffs, like half his family.
"Do you have a favorite piece?" he asked knowingly.
Gia chuckled and took his arm. "Of course I do." She proceeded to not quite drag him down three hallways before they entered a room he hadn't seen yet. It was one of the smaller rooms, though it had a wall of windows that faced one of the loveliest gardens Ian had seen since his arrival. "This, right here," she gestured to a small porcelain vase on a pedestal in one corner.
Ian leaned in closer, but kept a safe distance. It was probably priceless. It was also, he was surprised to find, actually interesting enough that even he liked it. The vase was glazed in a riot of colors that swirled in rainbow patterns and then scratched with ancient Cretan patterns, that stood out pale and nearly white against the colors. "It's beautiful." He smiled over at Gia. "Almost as pretty as you are."
::What are you doing back here?:: a disapproving female voice asked coldly.
Ian turned with Gia, who looked slightly annoyed, though the expression vanished being a well-practiced nod of respect. ::I am showing one of our guests around, Aunt Maritza,:: she said to the older woman with the severe expression, and just as severe fashion sense. ::To be a good host is one of the duties of a girl of breeding, is it not?::
This Maritza looked as if she had bitten a sour grape. ::It is. Though I was not aware that meant letting them poke their noses into private rooms.::
::No one's poking their nose into anything, Auntie,:: Gia replied primly. ::This is Ian Elric.::
Ian didn't expect the old woman to know who he was, but a decided feeling of unease settled in his stomach when her eyes lit up with recognition…and her face turned into even more of a scowl. He pretended not to notice and inclined his head respectfully. ::It is an honor to meet you, madam. I-::
::Enough,:: she cut him off sharply. ::You butcher our language. Not that I would expect more from a vagrant actor.:: The last words dripped with derision. ::Why my sister's daughter would allow you alone with her child, I cannot imagine. But don't expect me to approve. Come, Giada, it is time our guest was returned to the public parts of the house.::
Ian and Gia followed the woman back down the hallway. It wasn't fast, given she was moving with a walking stick, though she hardly seemed to need it. He considered trying to engage the woman in conversation –to break the ice- but Gia's face said very clearly don't even try it.
They were only spared her continued chaperone by the arrival of two gardeners with a question "only Maritza" could solve regarding the gardens where the post-rehearsal dinner would be held.
"Please, ignore her," Gia said in little more than a whisper when they were back in the sitting room near the front of the house and the woman had gone. ::She's old, and grouchy, and opinionated…and thoughtless…and—"
"I get it," Ian assured her with a disarming smile. "And I'm not offended." He honestly wasn't. He'd been called worse.
"Well you should be," Gia said in a huff. "But she's mother's aunt, and the head of the family on that side, so we must endure her rudeness. I'm so sorry, anyway. She doesn't much like foreigners. She really hates anyone who doesn't have what she considers good blood or, more importantly, a "real" job."
"Then I must be doubly offensive," Ian's grin widened.
"She probably thinks you're going to try and weasel your way into my bed, then run off," Gia rolled her eyes.
No wonder she looked like she wanted to castrate me. "Well, I've never been a very good weasel," Ian replied lightly. "And all magazines to the contrary, I'm not really the kiss-and-run type."
"I didn't think you were." Gia was finally smiling. This one was coy. "My father says I have a gift for reading people's personalities and intentions."
"Even actors?"
"You're not really all that different from anyone else," Gia assured him.
"That must ruin a lot of movies," Ian laughed, leaning against the edge of a piano.
"Only bad ones," Gia replied as she sat down on the piano bench. "A really good actor doesn't show through his performance." She set her fingers to the keys, and began to play a soft but lively little melody.
Now she had him curious, and Ian would have paid a week's wages she had done it on purpose. "Do I?"
Gia did not respond for several bars of music. "Only when you do it on purpose."
"And how can you tell it's on purpose?"
"Because now, I've seen you smile," she said, her face flushing slightly. "And you're much more genuine than some of the other performers I've met. You meet a surprising number when your father's the president of a country," she explained. "I think that… you let your sincerity come through sometimes. When your characters are hurting or feeling most, it doesn't feel like acting." Now her surety faltered. "Am I right?"
It was a bold question, but also one that opened her up for failure, after saying she had a gift, it would be a blow to be wrong.
But she wasn't. Ian had never had his acting nailed quite so directly. He was good. He was very good at being all sorts of things he wasn't, but the things he was… he let those out. He tried not to be fake, when real emotion could do what pretending could only try. "That may be the finest compliment my work has ever received," Ian said after a moment. "You're absolutely right."
Gia's grin lit up. "So, can you tell that to my friend Lynett when she comes over tomorrow afternoon?"
"Sure, but why?"
"She's been insisting for two years that you weren't really crying in the scene in that episode of Southbeach Romance when you played Romero, and Paula died in your arms after you saved her from the shipwreck."
Ian remembered that episode. "Oh no, that was real all right. Though," he admitted, "it wasn't because I was really in the moment. It was because I had just sprained my ankle that morning filming those rock-diving and rescue stunts from the previous scene."
Gia's expression went blank for a moment, then she chuckled. "No wonder the pain looked so real."
Minxia knew it was silly to feel nervous about showing her mother her wedding dress. It wasn't like her mother had ever disliked anything Minxia had found tasteful. This, however, was far more elaborate than anything Minxia had ever worn. Not that she had seen the final product herself, though several visits since her first visit had made her excited.
"Here we are," she said as she, Angelique, and her mother entered Kamille's.
"What a lovely little shop," Ren beamed as she looked around.
::Thank you, madam,:: Kamille said as she came out from the back, smiling. ::But then, if you are this lovely bride's mother, than I would expect you to have the same delightful taste. You must be Renxiang.::
::Just Ren is fine,:: Minxia's mother chuckled as the two women shook hands. ::I've heard much about your designs, Kamille. My daughter is difficult to impress.::
::Just wait until you see her in my latest creation,:: Kamille assured her. ::She has inspired me to my finest work to date.::
Minxia followed Kamille into the dressing area, while Angelique and her mother were left to wait in the main shop. The flutter of nerves in her stomach settled only as she laid eyes on the final product of lots of work.
The form-fitting sheath, overlaid in delicate and complex floral Cretan lace, was a pale, misty shade that was just identifiable as green. The straps let into a plunging neckline far more dramatic than anything she had ever worn, and the dress would hug the curves to her waist, before rippling out in a fall of silk and lace. It was daring, elegant, and highlighted the unique colors of her complexion. It was reminiscent of images of ancient Cretan goddesses, brought forward to modern tastes.
Minxia slipped out of her street clothes and into the dress with minimal help from Kamille. A bit of a miracle really, she could have dressed herself alone if necessary. Many of the dresses she had tried on required an army –or so it felt- of attendants. That was one of the things she had so disliked about them. This, while it looked complex, was elegantly simple sophistication.
::A perfect fit, if I say so myself,:: Kamille beamed from behind her as Minxia looked at her image in the mirror. ::But, of course, we should go all out to show your mother that you will be the most beautiful bride in Creta.:: She undid the twisted braid Minxia had her hair up in that day, allowing it to cascade downward in rich, dark waves, kissed with the subtle red that highlighted it. Kamille pulled a soft blush-wine colored rose from a vase of fresh stems, nipped it, and slid it easily behind Minxia's ear. ::You brought your jewelry.:: It was not a question.
::It's in my bag,:: Minxia nodded.
Kamille brought out the necklace Minxia had chosen for the occasion – an intricate silver chain of Xingese make and design, holding a pendant of mostly silver, set with a floral pattern of tiny, Xing red rubies and Amestrian blue sapphires, though from it dangled pale green pearls nearly identical to the color of the dress. There was a thick metal bracelet that matched.
::Breathe,:: Kamille suggested before Minxia realized she hadn't in several seconds. ::I promise, you are thin and will not pop a seam.::
That made Minxia chuckle, and then she was breathing more normally. ::Thank you, Kamille. It's perfect.::
When Minxia left the dressing room, her mother's eyes beamed with pride and pleasure. Angelique, ever classy, whistled.
::Thrakos won't be able to take his eyes off you,:: her mother reached out and took Minxia's hands, giving them a squeeze as she looked her over. ::But then, that is the idea.::
::Every man in Creta is going to be jealous…and the girls too, when you steal the spotlight,:: Angelique grinned. ::You look amazing, Minx.::
Minxia felt her usual confidence returning at the assurance that this more daring dress was perfect. ::Thanks. Oh, don't cry yet, Mom,:: she exclaimed as her mother's eyes began to look misty. ::Dad's not here to hand you a tissue.::
That made her mother laugh. ::You're right. He'll be disappointed if everyone sees him crying alone, because I've finished already.::
::Of course. We can't let Dad be embarrassed.::
Author's Note: 10/8/15 Holy cat whiskers, a chapter! Hello, everyone! As promised, I am back. The story isn't done, but I do have a few more chapters to share after a harrowing summer that turned into a lot of job hunting and figuring out how I was going to get the money together to keep paying for Grad School. Then learning said new job, taking classes, and balancing all the things that are life. :) Hoping that November (NaNoWriMo is coming!) will be as productive for the story as it always is.