♨ 1 Apple Pie + Eighteen Apples and Cinnamon | Action/Voice ♨

[installing]

[Back dated to the 11th.

Four. Four birthdays in Luceti. Honestly none of them have ever been very exciting, but maybe it's better that way. Calling attention to age, especially now that she's 20, is a little of a scary thought. Instead she'll act like it's a normal day for most of it. Taking her dog for a walk in the late morning, spending time in the smithy, and even grocery shopping a bit. Eventually sometime in the afternoon, before dinner, she'll ask the village a question:]

A question for everyone: How do you feel about growing older here? Whether you already have or not. Is it scary to think about?
[Families? Relationships? Are they even a good idea? Despite the fact those are things she wants.]

Comments

[automailed]

I-I'm just saying, we've still got a little girl in the house!

[installing]

Don't you think I'm aware of that!? Ed, I'm eager not stupid!

[automailed]

[....Eager.....

...she's eager...

HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO THAT]

[installing]

[She blinks, and wears a quizzical look on her face. Winry won't say anything, but she will definitely watch Ed's face with curiosity. Did she say something wrong? She definitely knows she wanted to stay away from the word "horny."]

[automailed]

[He mulls it over in silence for a long moment - not particularly in depth, just... trying to sort out his own feelings, which is never easy. She's eager. Okay, he understands that; she's waited a long time for him, after all, and he's not exactly hurrying things along. But she's also promised not to go too fast for him.

That's why they're here now, after all this time. Not... doing more. Just cuddling. Sharing a bed for the night, getting used to each other, being more physical...

It's a little frightening, yes. Because he doesn't know what he's doing, because he doesn't want to screw up, because he wants her to be happy but he's afraid of being happy himself. This is territory he's unfamiliar with, something he can't study on a map or research in a book. It's new. An adventure, just like she said.

And since when has that ever stopped him?

He closes his eyes for a moment, takes a deep breath, and without warning leans away until he flops back on the bed, his gaze fixated on the ceiling for about ten seconds before he shifts to look over at Winry instead. His expression keeps shifting back and forth between giving her two very different messages: his own lingering uncertainty, and a quiet invitation for her to join him.

He's still nervous, yeah. But...

...maybe he's kind of eager, too. Maybe that's okay.]

[installing]

[The woman stares at him with a puzzled expression. This only lasts a few moments before she crawls up to Ed, and lays down beside him. Winry cuddles up close with her head next to his on the pillow, and her hand gently resting on his chest. When she speaks her voice is soft and small like the smile now on her face.]

Thank you.

[automailed]

[He has to resist the urge to fidget; it's strange, lying so close to someone else, something he hasn't done since he was a kid sharing a bed with Al. And this is about as far from that familial, platonic situation as one can get. It's not uncomfortable, though, just... new. Something to adjust to, to get used to, to... let himself enjoy. He lets the sensation of it sink in - the closeness of her body next to his, the smile on her face, the warmth of her hand on him. The way her voice sounds so close to his ear.

For a moment he clenches his hand into a fist to give his tension an outlet, then releases it to slide it over, touching her hand and twining his fingers through hers. It's not that hard. And it's not bad, either.

Not bad at all.]

Dummy... you shouldn't have to thank me for something like this.

[installing]

[Winry leans her face in to nuzzle him. Sure she wants more, but this moment... it's not perfect, and it's not her first time lying in bed with someone. However it is satisfying. It fills her heart with an overwhelming feeling of happiness. Progress, however slow is still good. And this? This is something that if it goes well she will have no shame in ask for in the future. It's intimate, but still somewhat innocent. All they'll be doing here is sharing space and sleeping. That's enough for her. Sleeping alone is something she's come to dislike. Winry whispers in his ear as she enjoys this moment.]

You're the dummy. It's not about "having to" do it. I want you to know I appreciate it.

[automailed]

[There's a pause as he furrows his brows at that, and once it passes he tilts his head until his cheek is against her hair, his only response a faint hum at first. He doesn't even mind the dummy comment for once- sometimes he's honestly surprised that his frequent hesitation hasn't pissed her off yet.]

Well... good. Because you did ask for it.

[Action]

[markofthewise]

I have no idea who that is. [A beat.] And that's gotta mean something. I mean, me and Ed? We're pals. He'd tell me if he thought smooching some other girl was better.

[Action]

[installing]

She's a mutual friend, and do you really think he'd talk about something like that at all?

[installing]

I guess I was just craving this ever since the night of that winter ball.

[menial]

Well -- actually, yeah. It does.

[automailed]

You could've said something, you know...

[But she wouldn't, he knows; she'd already told him that she wasn't going to rush him. He can't blame her for holding back when it's because of him.]

[installing]

So then we'll be friends! Not that hard.

[installing]

[She shifts before reaching over him to turn out the light.]

I didn't know if you were ready. Even earlier you freaked out.

[automailed]

...I know.

[His voice is quieter, his tone shifting into that one he uses when he's only half-listening, busily lost in thought.

He can't do anything about how he's been in the past. All he can do is try to do better.]

[installing]

But we can talk tomorrow. [She rests close to him again, and pulls up the covers over them.]

If you don't like it we don't have to do this again.

[automailed]

Ha... I could say the same to you. I might roll over on you, or snore in your face.

[Even in the dark, she might be able to hear a hint of a grin in his voice. He's nervous, yeah, but... having her here is nice. She's warm and soft against him, and it's not so lonely. Since Al went home he's really missed sharing his room with someone.]

[installing]

[She shrugs.]

You know me. I'm a deep sleeper.

[automailed]

I don't wanna hear any complaints, then!

[So... that means it really is okay to screw up? Because if so- cool.]

[installing]

You won't! I'll just give you looks over breakfast.

[automailed]

...That doesn't really make me feel any better.

[installing]

Do you really think I wouldn't just tell you about it?

voice;

[ex_tessen852]

I guess this means you have a lot of stories to tell me.