maskormenacelogs | (no subject)

(no subject)

WHO: Ed Elric, Winry Rockbell, Mark Vorkosigan
WHERE: The Residence
WHEN: Oct 26
WHAT: Time for some open discussions between friends
WARNINGS: Who lets teenagers have relationships

[It's a fine day to hole up down in the basement, bundled up with blankets and exceptionally fluffy dogs. For once, however, the resident Amestrians aren't entirely lost to the worlds of machinery and chemistry. Instead, they've called Mark down for a visit. Just to hang out; definitely no ulterior motives here. Nevermind any looks of nervous uncertainty shared between the blond pair. Everything is totally fine here.]

Thanks for coming down, Mark.

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Do you want a blanket?

[ She is already with a blanket over her head. ]

Oh. Uh - No. I'm all right.

[ He was raised, after all, on icy Jackson's Whole. Virginia is warm, by his standards. Plus, he always dresses stiflingly. Plus, he has extra padding to keep him warm. Plus, when he gets nervous he feels kind of hot, and he's feeling nervous now. A bit. A little. ]

And you're welcome. I guess. Is everything okay?

[ Mark is, after all, a sensitive - maybe hypersensitive - observer of human behavior. He can tell when things are off. ]

[Ed's quick to lift a hand in a placating gesture and flash a reassuring smile.]

Everything's fine! We just wanted to talk to you.

Ed, you're terrible at this.

Ignore his terrible face, Mark. Everything is actually OK.

Um - okay.

[ Mark, slightly uneasily, settles down into a seat. He doesn't look particularly reassured. ]

Like you're doing any better.

[He huffs! And turns his attention back to Mark,trying to sort out how to start. It wasn't going to help anything to drag it out now, so... ]

We just...wanted to let you know that we're—dating. I guess. Me and Winry.

[Nailed it.]

[ LOOKING!!! AT HIM!!! '^' ]

We wanted to tell you, since you're our best friend.

Oh.

[ He swallows, and feels a painful squeeze at his heart. Dating. Sure. Yeah. The two of them...paired off. Yeah. Right. That makes a lot of sense. They suit each other. Not at all weird-looking, not at all weird....Yeah. Of course.

What's he supposed to do here? What's he supposed to say? Is he supposed to smile? Dammit, he's not good at smiling under the best of circumstances...So he just gives a formal jerk of his chin, upwards, and mumbles: ]

Good. Congratulations.

[His face twists in concern. This is more of less the sort of reaction he'd been worried about and, as expected, he doesn't have any idea what to do about it. Not himself anyway.

He glances pointedly at Winry.]

There's one more thing.

[ She doesn't even notice, ED, so focused on Mark. It's a good thing he set her up though, as she blurts out- ]

We both like you!

[ Mark stares, distracted from his self-pity by - well - by confusion. Uncertainly - ]

Um...Yeah. I know. We're friends.

[Ed's seized up at Winry's outburst, braced for some kind of confused panic from Mark. It certainly hadn't gone well when Miles pushed this issue so why would now be any different?

Thankfully it looks like he was wrong, but if Winry tries to clarify... He's got to beat her to it.]

She wants to date you too!

[ She looks over at Ed like he grew a second head, before realizing the mistake that he's covering. Smooth Winry, incredibly smooth. ]

I MEAN- I want to but-

[ The color drains out of his face. Something clenches at his throat - grief, maybe, or terror, or impossible hope, or something. ]

You...What? Wait - what?

Well...you heard her! [Ed swallows around a knot of uncertainty of his own.] It's what— You're something she wants, and I... I mean I won't stop her. Or you. Either of you.

You- I mean, you don't have to . . . ! I know it's weird, it would really be weird, even in Amestris . . .

[ He feels like he's about to choke. His head hurts. ]

What...I don't get it. You're dating. The two of you. And that's it, isn't it? You don't have to...say things. To make me feel better. [ Please stop pitying me. ]

[He casts another unsure glance at Winry; a silent plea for help here.]

It's... I guess it would be for other people? But we're not saying this to make you feel better. This is— When I first asked Winry, one of the first things she wanted to talk about was her feelings about you.

[ She's just beet red. ]

S-Sorry! Sorry! I know you're really supposed to only like one guy at a time, especially if you're a beginner. But you kept being so cool at negotiating, and dressing so much better than Ed . . . !

[ He shrinks down in his chair, looking rumpled and deflated. He's definitely not getting it; everything they're saying sounds to him like an apology for why it's never going to happen. ]

It's - it's really okay. You don't have to say...things like that. I know I'm not - you know. I'm fat, and short, and - half-crazy, and...I know that - girls wouldn't ever...want...me. So you don't have to.

What.... What are you talking about? Why the hell wouldn't anyone want you? I liked you from the second I met you!

Right, and Ed's short too!

Uh...

[ He's thrown off his self-pity stride again by that comment about Ed. But then he shakes his head. ]

I don't mean like as a friend. I mean - like romantically. Girls don't like people who look like toads.

I'm n—ghh! [He cuts himself off, thinking better of denying that while Mark is caught up in dragging himself.]

Ugh... Okay, first: you don't look like a toad. Second: Winry is trying to ask you out right now.

[ wh-hhhfff. just. nods. ]