♨ 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]

And if they try to give you any trouble, I'll kick their asses.

[FIRMLY. Even if he has no actual way of doing that.]

[installing]

Yeah... thanks, Ed. [The sentiment is appreciated, especially on her birthday.]

[automailed]

Forget it.

[Making vaguely disgruntled threats at unseen enemies isn't exactly constructive, but at least it's something he's good at.

Enough about that, though.]

To hell with them. You wanna do something for your birthday?

[installing]

Do you think we could sleep together tonight?

[automailed]

[Sleep together, oh, sure, that doesn't sound so-

...so...

...sleep together...

...sleep together...

.........

W H A T]

S-s-s-sleep together!?

[DID SHE JUST ASK THAT OVER THE NETWORK OH GOD]

[installing]

Wh-what? Is there a problem with wanting to cuddle?!

[automailed]

...Cuddle?

[But that's-]

That's not what you said!

[Wait, should he be relieved or disappointed? HE'S NOT SURE HOW HE FEELS RIGHT NOW.]

[installing]

Yes it is! We'll sleep in be bed and cuddle until we fall asleep. We'll be sleeping together! If you don't want to do it that's fine, jeez. Sorry I'm moving to fast for you.

[automailed]

N-no! I didn't- that's not-

[God, this relationship is doing dangerous things to his blood pressure. It's her birthday, idiot! Would it kill him to indulge her? It's not like he doesn't enjoy spending time with her.

So.

Yes.

Just say it.]

....Y-yesIthinkwecansleeptogetherforyourbirthday!

[installing]

Y-yeah? You're ready for that?

I don't want to push you.

[automailed]

You're not- it's not pushing me! I mean- you said- it's cuddling. We've- we've done that. Sort of.

[Is bed-cuddling different than couch-hugging and whatever? They've made out, so it's not like this is some huge obstacle to overcome, right?

...Right?

Oh geez.]

[installing]

We have, I know. It's just-

I don't want to rush you, okay? I want to take things as you're ready for them. Trust me, I don't think you want to jump up to- Never mind.

[automailed]

W-well.

[Now he feels kind of pathetic- what kind of man is he, making her worry and wait just because... b-because... you know... intimacy... makes him nervous. That's dumb. He's being dumb.]

It's not like I can't just go back to my own bed if it's too much.

[installing]

Yeah... Just let me know if I'm coming on too strong, okay? I want you to know I'll share everything with you, but it can be at your pace.

["I don't want to push you away by asking too much."]

[automailed]

I'm not fragile or anything, Winry, you're not gonna scare me off.

[At least he's pretty sure she isn't. Sheesh, though, does he really come off that nervous?

...Yeah, okay he's been flaily. But he's trying, really...!]

[installing]

Okay, fine. I'll just do what I think is good, and you can tell me if it's too fast. But you promise to tell me, right?

[automailed]

I'm pretty sure we've always had a handle on the honesty part of a relationship.

[Besides secret-keeping, they've always been free about speaking their minds. He's not worried.]

[installing]

Good!

I look forward to tonight.

[automailed]

Y-yeah. Me too. Meet you there? Your room?

[He is so not going to chicken out. Even if he has a few hours to sit and stew over the fact that they're actually doing this.]

[installing]

Yeah. I'll be in my pajamas and ready by ten. You got it?

[automailed]

I got it... it's a promise.

[He's hoping that makes her believe in him a little more. In general, he tries not to break his promises to her.]

[installing]

[So by ten she'll be sitting in her bed with her legs crossed under her, and the door open just enough so that one could spot her from the living room. She's waiting.]

[automailed]

[it's 9:59:52.

9:59:53.

54.

55.

56.

5- STOMP STOMP STOMP STOMP

And suddenly there's an Edward at the door, bracing himself against the doorframe, already in his own pajamas- dark long sleeves and pants, of course. He's not about to wreck the experience by getting oil stains all over her and her clothes.

And he hadn't totally been stewing quietly in his room until the last second, building up enough nerve to show up. Nooooooo sir.]

...Uh. Hey.

[installing]

Hey. [Immediately she scoots over to the far side of the bed, and pats the spot she just made free.]

Come on in.

[automailed]

[His gaze drifts to the spot she left him, swallowing the lump of uncertainty in his throat, and heads over, plopping down heavily and resting his hands on his knees. Okay, he made it. Awesome.]

I made it in time.