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[installing]

[It has been a week. It has been a week since Winry became single. Since she went home from a date with a ripped dress, soaked and cold. She hasn't really said too much about it. The blond honestly wanted to talk about it, but hadn't felt... she hadn't felt ready. But now... now she's willing to talk. Maybe to a select few people, but she's ready. Maybe that will make her feel better. She's kind of annoyed and disheartened she hasn't seen Haruhi that much during the week, but she'll let that girl have space if that's what she really wants. Instead she goes about her days pretending everything is okay and normal. Places she can be found is the Smithy, her house, and on some days the lake. Any path between the three is included. And on the twenty second, the full one week marker, she sends a message out to the village.]

Hey, everyone. Are there any drinks at Good Spirits you would recommend?

[Filtered from Haruhi: 96%]
And have you ever made a decision that hurt someone, but you felt it was the best choice for the future?

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[herotypical]

[ her voice stays warm with only a waver of concern. ]

Of course. Of course it's all right. I can't think of anything righter.

[installing]

So I'll see you tonight?

[herotypical]

...Absotively, Win.

[installing]

Yeah, I'll- I'll see you then.

[And time passes. Day turns to night and she'll arrive at the bar. She's wearing dark colors because her mood is pretty low, but she cares enough to be wearing a skirt and trying to smile to Buffy if she sees the woman when she walks in.]

[herotypical]

[ buffy enters the bar that night as a civilian. she doesn't veer for behind the counter but heads immediately for the other blonde. ]

Evenin', Win.

[installing]

Hey, Buffy. How are you?

[herotypical]

A little stiff, still. Thanks to that mission I just got back from. But it's no biggie.

You, hun? [ she grabs for a stool. ]

[installing]

I'm fi- no. Actually, I guess I'm not so good.

[herotypical]

[ her head tilts -- buffy waves a hand for the bartender who is on duty and, with a hushed voice, orders up two weak mccoys. paper umbrellas included, please. ]

What's up?

[installing]

Haruhi and I-

I broke up with her, and she stopped talking to me.

[herotypical]

[ poor winry.

poor haruhi. ]

These things...take time. It might be a while before she's ready to talk to you again.

[installing]

[...]

I think she hates me.

[herotypical]

[ she remembers their last conversation and how buffy had then been reminded of angel. angel walking away on grad night because he couldn't give her the future he thought she wanted. had she hated him, then?

no. but she'd been angry. aching. broken. and she didn't know how to breath for days.

buffy swallows hard. ] Sh-she's probably just hurt, Winry. Really really hurt but...but break-ups do that to people. They tear you up from the inside.

[ okay. maybe there had been a little hate. ]

[installing]

But- But all I do is worry about her, and I want to see if she's-

So of course she's not okay, but I want to make sure she's not doing anything stupid to herself. I want to help in anyway I can, and I'm giving her space if she wants it, but I'm worried.

[herotypical]

[ buffy bits her lower lip. an oddly self-conscious action for such a usually bold woman. ]

She's got other friends, right? You have to trust that they'll look after her. You've changed the definition of what you are to each other. You've gotta let that settle before you go and try to help her with anything.

[installing]

[Winry stares at tabletop/bar top they're sitting at as if it were a puppy and she accidentally kicked it. Guilty, and apologetic.]

Y-yea, you're right.

[herotypical]

...When did it happen?

[installing]

A week ago.

[herotypical]

I know it doesn't feel like it from your POV but...a week? It's not really all that long. She's probably gonna need longer.

[installing]

If she needs more I'll definitely give her more.

[She just wish she would tell her.]

[herotypical]

When me and Angel broke up for...similar reasons. Similarish? We -- we couldn't see each other at all. Not for a very long time.

[installing]

[Haruhi doesn't slay Amestrians though, Buffy.]

Oh... sorry.

[herotypical]

[ it had never been about the slaying. not with angel. no -- with angel, it was the lack of future. the fact that they couldn't one day settle down and have kids. that he couldn't offer her what he thought she'd one day want. he thought they were doomed so he left without a goodbye... ]

N-no. No apologies. It happened so long ago and I'm...over it. Mostly. Kinda. The point I'm trying to make? Angel skipped town to give post-break-up me and him the space he thought we needed. That's not possible, here. It's gonna suck but you're gonna have to play it by ear.

[installing]

Yeah, I'll just- if that's what she wants...

If space is what she needs I'll give it to her.

[herotypical]

[ a sad sigh. ]

No one wins. In this kind of break up, I mean. No one wins. No one gets to feel good about it.