Loose Screws [Video 4]

[hands4healing]

[Locked from Edward Elric]

Have Winry, dressed in comfortable Mid-Florida clothes, sitting outside in the sun, with a cute black and white dog running around her. Winry is throwing a tennis ball inside of a sock - kind of a home made fox tail toy - and Zoey is retrieving it with some discussion via dog barking involved.]

Hi. Can anyone explain to me about Christmas? I mean traditions, besides the Santa and the gifts. Are we supposed to feast again? Tell stories? Do we make up our own?

I didn't really understand Halloween, or Thanksgiving. I'd like to understand Christmas.

We had some local solstice celebrations back home in Risembool, for the seasons, but I lived in a farming community.

[Maybe Christmas is something that's done in the cities?]

We'd light fires on the longest night of the year, and try to stay awake all night to watch the dawn. I guess it's different here.

And, uh. [She rubs the back of her neck, blushing cutely.] What kind of gifts do you give to people [best-not-boyfriends, she means], anyway?

Comments

video

[dogsled]

The traditions of Christmas vary, and yet retain a certain running theme. I can explain it to you, if you like.

As for gifts, I find that at this time of year it's best to gift something that comes from the heart. I like to five wood carvings, myself, but that's not for everyone.

[video forever]

[hands4healing]

Hello, Mr. Fraser! Yes, please, I'd really like to know more about it.

[Winry pauses to take the toy and throw it for Zoey again.]

Hmmm...from the heart?

[video forever]

[dogsled]

My father once told me a story about a friend who had lost his pack, blind in a snowstorm. He came across a fisherman struggling to build a dug out in the thrashing storm, and they stayed there throughout the night. In the morning, the man gave him dried fish, and directions back to town, and in turn, he gave him a silver dollar, an antique he'd always carried with him. Three years later he made the same trip, and he found the fisherman's son walking along the shoreline, wearing on a leather cord around his neck the silver dollar he had given his father years before. When they spoke, the son told him that his father had given him the coin as a gift, and that it had belonged to a man who had once saved his life in a storm. He gave it to his son because it had value for him, and because he hoped that one day it would protect him, too.

The point is that the monetary value of the gift is irrelevant. If it is all you have, the gift of a cup of rice is precious enough.

[hands4healing]

[Well, she kind of did that on a daily basis...or at least, every time she tuned Ed's automail. But maybe she could think of something.]

I see. That helps, Mr. Fraser, thank you.

So, tell me about Christmas. [Maybe that'll be easier, though Winry doubts it. So very little of this world made sense to her.]

[dogsled]

Well, let me see. The story of Christmas is primarily a religious one, although the holiday as it is celebrated today is a combination of religious belief and winter festivals much like the solstice celebrations you mentioned. There is feasting, and singing, and gift giving, masses--a variety of practices, really. The stories of St Nicholas and the tradition of decorating trees originated in Central Europe, from whence they spread worldwide.

[ He paused for a moment. ]

Tell me if I'm going too fast.

[hands4healing]

Trees get decorated? [She sounds confused.]

[dogsled]

They do. You'll see them in a lot of the stores, and the windows of people's homes, decorated with colored lights and ornaments, sprigs of holly and poinsettia.

Video

[backstrorca]

[Makoto has his glasses on in the video--he had taken a break from studying to check the network, and his eyes still occasionally roamed to the pages of the book in his hands. But he's still quick to flash a warm smile at the screen.]

I think Christmas varies a lot depending on where you are. In Japan, we didn't really celebrate like they do in the United States.

[He pauses, and laughs a bit sheepishly.]

It's actually more of a day for couples where I come from! But we've adopted a few traditions from this country, so I guess it's comparable?

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[hands4healing]

[Couples? Oh, geeze! Look at that blush!]

Really? Uh...not religious?

[Because that's what she's gotten out of it so far.]

Maybe it's a good thing we're in Heropa then. [More to herself than anything.]

What sort of traditions did your country adopt?

Video

[backstrorca]

[He takes a moment to mark his place before putting the book down, taking off his glasses to give her his full attention.]

No, not at all! Not many people are that religious in Japan...

[A slight pause as Makoto tries to remember--it was hard thinking of what they did for Christmas in terms of "adoption" instead of just what you do.]

Well, the towns usually put up a lot of lights, and we'll go out to look at them. Sometimes we'll put up a Christmas tree, though it's not really required or anything. Oh, and we'll usually make Christmas cakes--or buy them in advance, but shops sell out pretty quickly...and sometimes we'll exchange gifts.

[Another pause, before he laughs a bit.]

In the bigger cities I think ordering out dinners or fried chicken is also a big deal, but we didn't really have that where I'm from. I'm not sure how much that matches up with the American way of celebrating Christmas though.

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[hands4healing]

[Oh, he seems nice.]

Christmas cake? [Ed would like a cake, she's pretty sure; he likes food in general, after all. And if she made a few extra, that'd be all right, too; she could give them to other people.] What kind of cake is that?

And lights? [She's not sure what you mean by put up lights, after all.]

Video

[backstrorca]

[Makoto smiles warmly--it's nice to talk to someone about traditions. Makes him think fondly of home.]

I don't think there's much difference between a Christmas cake and a normal one, besides it having Christmas themed decorations. And eating it on Christmas, of course!

[He usually just ate what his mother or Haru made honestly, he was not one to be found in the kitchen.]

And the lights...well, we usually don't put up lights ourselves, but they'll put them up around town. Strings of lights in all sorts of colors hung off trees and light posts. They're nice to look at at night.

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[hands4healing]

Oh, I would've thought a Christmas cake might have a different flavor or something. [She's actually a little disappointed it doesn't.] So, how do you decorate it? ...with lights?

[That doesn't sound very appetizing.]

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[bratziska]

It's not strictly necessary to give others presents. I don't. ( Probably because she's thirteen and hasn't had a job until recently. ) Christmas can also be a religious celebration as well.

video;

[hands4healing]

[Well...but.

Have a shrug.]

I'm not religious.

video;

[bratziska]

Well, since you are asking questions about Christmas, I gathered that you are not a practicing Christian. In any case, you shouldn't feel obliged.

( but maybe she should try being actually helpful. )

Whatever. Who are you buying presents for?

video;

[hands4healing]

Ah. [Winry is even more confused now - Christian? But the question stopped her from making her own query. She hopes she isn't blushing, but she probably is.]

Ah - my best friend!

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[bratziska]

( Yeah she's not really fooling anyone but Franziska is feeling generous and giving ('tis the season, after all), so she'll play along. )

Well, what does this 'best friend' of yours like to do with his spare time?

video;

[hands4healing]

Research, mostly.

[Really, Ed, you need some better hobbies.]

He has a little business, too, but he can make anything he needs for it.

[Literally.]

He likes food, but I cook a lot already.

[Whine.]

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[extirpations]

I'm as confused by the holiday as yourself to be honest. However I imagine Edward would appreciate any gift from you Miss Winry. [Because yeah he can guess who would be at the top of any list of people she wants to give gifts to.]

You already give so much, how could he not?

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[hands4healing]

[Winry just freezes at the sound of Mr. Kimblee's voice, and the sight of him on her communication device. Still, after a split second, she manages a smile and a more or less normal expression.]

It's a very confusing celebration, isn't it? All of them in this world seem to be!

[Zoey runs up and pushes her way up against Winry, as if she knows Something's Wrong. Winry takes her toy and throws it, which makes Zoey leave - briefly.

Winry isn't sure how to respond to the rest of Mr. Kimblee's response.]

There are other people here I'm friends with!

[Well, yeah, that bluster isn't...great, but.]

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[extirpations]

[Oh Winry. Stop making it so easy for him. Ah, but she wouldn't be herself if she didn't wear her heart so openly, now would she?]

They are. It's certainly nothing like home. I find myself quite unable to keep up with them all. Do you have a favourite so far?

[The dog is only of the barest interest simply for what it reveals. That Winry has been here long enough to feel some sense of permanence and to feel she will be here for some time longer. It's perhaps a little unexpected - surely she must want to return to the friends, family, life she left behind? No matter. Whatever her reasoning it doesn't concern him.

Kimbleee chuckles indulgently at her discomfort and nods in agreement.]

I never meant to suggest otherwise. I'm sure you have many friends here, you are such a charming, passionate young lady that anyone would count themselves fortunate to call you such. I merely assumed that Edward would be at the top of any list of people you wish to give gifts to. You two have known each other such a long time and it's obvious how much you care for him and he you.

video;

[hands4healing]

[Considering how many of the holidays have ended badly, Winry certainly doesn't have a favorite one. She scowls at the camera, not at all sure how to answer the question. After all, she doesn't want to give him any further ammunition to use against Ed or her. Or any of the remaining Amestrians, though she's pretty sure Mr. Mustang and Major General Armstrong could take care of themselves.]

I haven't experienced enough of them to make a decision! [There, that ought to put him off.]

[She bites the inside of her cheek to keep from blushing at Mr. Kimblee's comments about how close she and Ed are. That closeness could be used against him, and Winry doesn't want to be a liability, ever again. The thought came to her just as suddenly that she wasn't any more. She has her own powers, and Kimblee doesn't know what she can do.]

We have known each other a long time, since we were babies. It's to be expected we'd care for each other!

[There's a ring of steel in her voice that wasn't there before.]

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[extirpations]

Well, if we're both still here next year I shall have to ask again and see if you have an answer then.

[His eyes widen, surprise flitting across his face at the sudden shift in her attitude but it vanishes just as quickly, replaced with no small amount of satisfaction and approval. Kimblee bows his head wordlessly as if acknowledging the change, smile widening into something far more honest if not the least bit kind.

Such a brave young lady and so dedicated. He had been discussing this very matter just a short time ago, hadn't he? A challenge, a strong-willed individual who staunchly refused to yield in the face adversity. There is more than one kind of strength he appreciates and here is the proof of that.

Despite the change his voice remains as smooth and polite as ever.]

Of course, of course. You're both most fortunate. It is a shame Alphonse is not here with you given this holiday seems to be one families spend together.

video;

[hands4healing]

[Winry doesn't want that to happen, but if it does, it does. She accepts the ball Zoey gives her and throws it again, glancing away from the camera as she pitches the ball. Her arm is strong and her throw is straight.

She notices his widening eyes, quick as he was to control himself. Inwardly, she's pleased he's startled - it makes her feel even better about herself. She can handle this, right? She may not be the genius the brothers are, but she's quick and clever, too.]

We are. We're here together. [She'd say it makes them strong, but she's not going to offer that kind of challenge to Mr. Kimblee. Then he strikes at her heart - Alphonse - and it's all Winry can do not to flinch at the blow.]

He was here. He could come back. And we know he's safe, after everything that happens back home.

[Neener, neener, Mr. Kimblee!]