[Video] Loose Screws 11

[hands4healing]

[There's an image of the beach and a black and white Border collie running along it. And a young woman's voice comes on.]

It's been over a year since I arrived here in this world. I came with my two best friends. They've both gone home now.

[A pause as the dog runs up to her with a soggy, battered tennis ball in its mouth. The dog politely hands the icky ball over and it's thrown, sending the dog after the the ball with a bark. Convveniently, Zoey's given Winry a chance to take a breath.]

I'm no closer in finding a way home. I don't know anyone who is, whether they've ported out for good or come back time and again.

[Another pause as Zoey runs back with the ball again. Winry takes it from her and tosses it into the surf.]

Today is another day for everyone but for some special people back home, it meant something. It still does. It's a promise.

[Zoey returns a third time, sandy and wet and oh so happy and when Winry doesn't take the ball fast enough, she drops it and barks.]

Comments

private

[resipiscent]

Will you tell me about it sometime?

[Audio; Private]

[hands4healing]

[She's still not showing herself. And Zoey's barking at something in the distance, so all you're really getting is the beach now, Riku.]

Today's the day Ed and Al started their journey to get their bodies back.

[Audio; Private]

[resipiscent]

[He inhales, understanding instantly. Edward's condition... and the look of his brother, from the one time they'd spoken -- he can imagine.]

They'll get there.

[Audio; Private]

[hands4healing]

I know they will. Ed told me everything works out all right.

[But even knowing it doesn't take away the loss of the boys not being here with her.]

[Audio; Private]

[resipiscent]

Still, though.

[He can imagine. After all, Riku also has this issue.]

[orions_shadow]

I can't remember dates like that. I know my birthday is on January 5th but nothing life changing like... you know.

[hands4healing]

[Like burning down a house so you had to succeed because then there was no where to come home to? Yeah.]

I know a few dates. That one's engraved on something.

[orions_shadow]

Sounds serious.

All the things that happened in the last couple years just blend together for me.

[hands4healing]

It is.

[...]

Must be a busy couple of years!

Video

[knifecollecting]

What's going on back home?

[She's curious, okay?]

[Video - Private]

[hands4healing]

[Winry isn't showing her face on the video but Zoey's loping along at the edge of the waves.]

Right now? I don't know for sure but 3 October is the day my friends burnt down their house so they had to do what they promised they'd do.

[Video - Private]

[knifecollecting]

[Jo will let Winry show her whatever she wants, and if it happens to be the dog, that's fine. Jo likes Zoey.]

It's hard to lose a home.

[Video - Private]

[hands4healing]

[...More Zoey.]

It is. I guess we all have that here.

[Video - Private]

[knifecollecting]

No, I mean. Back home I lost mine. There was a fire too. [She's trying to be sympathetic, but maybe she's making it about herself.]

Are you okay?

[illuminescent]

Are you quite all right?

[Video]

[hands4healing]

[Winry is not on this video. But her dog is. Barking at the waves like a crazy thing.

And to answer your question, Lucy, about as good as she can be, considering.]

I'm all right, Lucy. Thank you for asking!

This day was...not exactly special to my friends, but it meant something to them.

[To Ed. Al didn't know about what Ed carved in his watch.]

[Video]

[illuminescent]

Does it mean something special to you as well?

[Video]

[hands4healing]

[Winry doesn't answer immediately. She's considering her answer.]

Yes. But not in the same way. It wasn't a promise made to me.

[Video]

[illuminescent]

Does that matter?

[Action]

[equinamity]

[Riza never knew the date specifically, but over her time working with the two Elrics she had parsed out that early October was not a pleasant time of year for them. The State Alchemy exam was late in the month, and she knew by default that the brothers must have left their home early in the month to head to Central to take the test. And while she has never been one to pry, she has always been one to comfort in whatever way she can.

So when Winry returns from the beach to the small house they've started sharing, she'll find Riza settled in the living room and Boba sitting on the floor by her feet, a book in hand. There's a plate of cookies sitting on the table and the whole house smells of fresh baking, and tea is steeping in the kettle. The blonde herself, however, seems oblivious to the spread--she just folds the page over and glances up at Winry, the hint of a worried expression visible in her eyes.]

Welcome back.

[Boba got to his feet, stretching, and makes a show of licking sand off of Zoey's nose, tail wagging slowly.]

[Action]

[hands4healing]

[Zoey bats at Boba, still high strung from her adventures on the beach.

Winry takes a deep breath, inhaling all the good smells of cookies and tea. She smells like the beach and wet dog.]

I didn't know you were baking today!

[Action]

[equinamity]

[Thankfully, neither bothers her, though she much prefers the scent of the beach to the scent of wet dog.

Hawkeye shrugs slightly, tilting her head. Boba presses his face to the floor and wiggles his tail as Zoey bops his nose.]

I hadn't initially planned to. [She places the book on the couch and gets to her feet, quietly getting two mugs and filling them with tea. She walks back over and hands one to Winry, wrapping her fingers around the mug still in her hand.]

But it seemed like we needed some baking today, so here we are.

[Action]

[hands4healing]

[At least the worst of the sand was washed off at the beach, so Zoey's not tracking lots of it in the house.

Winry accepts the mug.]

Thank you. For the cookies and the tea.

[She glances at the dogs. They're easier to deal with than people.]

I'm all right, Riza. I talked about this last year, too.

[Of course, Ed was here then.]

video;

[kingpawn]

Winry...? You don't mean -- are you talking about Edward? Did he return home?

video;

[hands4healing]

Hello, Mr. White! I hope you liked your pie.

[She's not in the video. She's filming her dog and the beach. There's the faintest hesitation before she speaks again.]

Yes, Ed's gone back home.