installing | ♨ 1 Apple Pie + Fifteen Apples and Cinnamon

[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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...]

I think she hates me.

[ 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. ]

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.

[ 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.

[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.

...When did it happen?

A week ago.

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.

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

[She just wish she would tell her.]

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.

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

Oh... sorry.

[ 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.

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

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

[ 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.

[Winry hunches over herself a little, crushed at the idea that this might not be the worst. It would crush her. Haruhi said she didn't hate her, but... what if she did? Was her decision wrong?

It's too late to go back now.]

[ she touches winry's shoulder. light, at first. then that touch sinks into a squeeze, lifting only so buffy can wind a strand of blonde hair around her fingers and lean to the left. slowly, affectionately, she starts a little braid in the section. ]

You don't need a drink; you need ice cream. Maybe a really cheesy movie. A manicure. Wanna sleep over, Win?

[ let me distract you. ]