Video

[heart_wrenching]

[ Even after the video starts, the image is mostly obscured, the figure still way too close and fiddling with her device. ]


Is this really broadcasting now? Amaaaaazing. I can't even see the microphone or camera! It's almost unbelievable.


[ When she finally sits back the area around her is a mess. The tables are strewn with tools and machine parts, knobs, springs, coils, piping. If one looks carefully, one may be able to spot a number of control panels suggesting she has possibly dismantled every major appliance in the home. Like ya do. ]


Well, hello! I'm a new imPort, my name's Winry. Winry Rockbell. And . . . does anyone out there know how to build a "microwave"? Well, rebuild, technically. The locks and turntables are pretty straightforward, but then there's all these wires . . . who knew electricity was going to be such a big deal, anyway?

Comments

[heart_wrenching]

[ SENSIBLE PARANOIA: usually not that bad an idea. ]

Oh! I know where that is. Maybe I can come by a bit before you close?

[vorbarra]

That should be fine. Around 7, then? The library won't be open too much past that but I can show you where it is-- it's nearby.

[heart_wrenching]

Oh, I'm sure I can just grab a few books. That should be perfect!

[ She can absolutely not, under any circumstances "just grab a few books." This is a lie and an error. ]

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor is ignorant of this lie. He will have to find out the hard way.

He smiles just slightly. ] I'll see you then.

[heart_wrenching]

See you then!


[ And she goes to answer other respondents for the time being. ]

[vorbarra]

[ Later that day finds Gregor wiping down the counter one last time and hanging up his apron, which leaves him in casual dark-wash jeans and a black cafe shirt, looking about as un-Imperial as he can possibly be.

Winry's blonde hair makes her easy to spot, and as he'd been keeping an eye out for her, he meets her by the front door with a small paper bag in hand. ]

Good evening, Miss Rockbell. [ Despite this formal greeting, he has an easy, casual air. ]

[heart_wrenching]

[ Easy enough, yeah. She has also brought a paper bag, but this one is empty, presumably in preparation for a library haul. ]

Oh! Gregor, right? Good evening!

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor's default expression looks downright gloomy. There's a wisp of quiet friendliness to him now, though, as he offers out the bag. ]

That's right. I thought you might like one of our leftover pastries-- we just have to throw them out otherwise.

[heart_wrenching]

-!! Thank you!


[ Oh she is all over a pastry. ]

[vorbarra]

[ That's gratifying, at least. His smile gains a little more traction. Gregor turns to lock the door behind him while she's preoccupied with the pastry, then turns back to her. ]

It's just down the street.

[heart_wrenching]

[ That's... somehow endearing. She'll follow behind him if he's leading. ]



Don't mind Ed. He'll be just as excited to see the library.

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor really doesn't mind him, which might be evident from his easy response as he starts to walk. ]

I hadn't realized you knew each other. You must be from the same place as Colonel Mustang, then. You all seem to be equally interested in libraries.

[heart_wrenching]

Well, the same country. Ed and I have been friends our whole lives, pretty much.

[vorbarra]

I'm glad you both arrived at the same time, [ Gregor says honestly. ] I showed up with someone I grew up with as well. It made things immeasurably easier.

[heart_wrenching]

[ She misses a beat, it's a quick beat though. ]

Yeah. It's helped so far for sure.

[vorbarra]

[ Hmm. ]

Adjusting to being here is a considerable undertaking. If you've any lingering concerns, perhaps I can answer them.

[fullmetalbrat]

[Edward has arrived with Winry, much more alert and focused than he was over the network the other day. He's actually taking the time to size Gregor up now, observing their surroundings, generally taking stock of the situation as a whole.]

Yo, Greg. Thought I'd tag along with her. Hope you don't mind.

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor is tall, lean, and, if anything, looks like a misplaced poet, academic and faintly sad. He has some muscle to him but nothing spectacular.

He raises an eyebrow at this intrusion. ] I don't, but I'm afraid I don't have a pastry for you.

[fullmetalbrat]

[Ed knew a guy that looked like a sad, harmless nerd once. Then his kid and dog went """missing""".

He also doesn't look exactly thrilled over the idea of Winry taking food from someone who's still effectively a stranger, but he's not stopping her either. (Possibly because he can't stop her from doing anything.)]

I'm not hungry anyway. I'm just here to see this library too.

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor is not actually a sad, harmless nerd, it's true. But when you catch him physically by himself he might as well be. He's about as prone to violence as a fluffy kitten.

He makes a short thoughtful noise as he starts walking, unoffended by this brush off. ]

I was planning on showing her the engineering section. Is there anywhere in particular I should be directing you?

[fullmetalbrat]

[Ed falls into step alongside Winry, keeping Gregor where he can see him.]

. . . Is there anything on memory?

[vorbarra]

[ He wasn't expecting that, and gives him a sidelong glance. ]

Neurologically or psychologically? There's both.

[fullmetalbrat]

[Finally it looks like some of his guard drops now that his attention is shifting to this new potential source of information.]

Both. I don't know what I'm looking for yet.

[vorbarra]

[ Get him talking about research and he relaxes? Well, Gregor's known any number of those types. ]

They're often combined, you know. Neuropsychology. I think what you're looking for is called cognitive science.

[fullmetalbrat]

[He'll even smile if it's about research.]

Then show me that! It sounds like a good place to start.