♨ 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

[installing]

Then maybe I want a romantic dinner date by the end of February, or maybe I want to see all of you by the end of January. Or perhaps I want to give you a special automail upgrade by March.

[automailed]

[He's tempted to grab himself a piece of paper and write this down - he wasn't expecting a list!! - but has to stop and gawk at her.]

A... a... all of me?

[Is she talking about... oh god...]

[installing]

[Winry can't help but smile. She tries stifling her laughter, but it doesn't work. Soon enough the woman is doubled over laughing.]

[automailed]

Wh-what's so funny now?

[He's not sure if he's more mad at the laughing or more flustered by her prior words, but the two are definitely in conflict for his reactions right now.]

[installing]

Hahahaha s-so I'm not sure what makes your reaction funnier: me being serious or hypothetical.

[automailed]

[And to think he was worried about the cuddling part of the evening when he should have been worried about the stupid things he manages to say while still being an alchemic genius.

Uuuuuuugh.]

Well were you being serious or not!?

[installing]

[She grin devilishly.]

What do you think?

[automailed]

[.............dammit Winry]

I think I won't be getting a relationship calendar to follow on my birthday or anything.

[installing]

Probably not, but that wouldn't make it an adventure, would it?

[automailed]

Even on an adventure, you need clues on where to go next and when!

[installing]

Well then why don't you use your genius mind to figure it out? Maybe I'll leave clues around the house.

[automailed]

[...Yeah, he's not going to risk falling for another tease. He gives her a light nudge with his elbow, huffing quietly under his breath.]

Just don't let Elicia find them, if you do.

[installing]

No, my clues will be for your eyes only.

[She playfully pokes his cheeks.]

[automailed]

[Noooo no cheek poking. He bats her hand away.]

Oi! They better be G-rated!

[installing]

Do you want our whole relationship to be G-rated!?

[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.

[installing]

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