milliways_bar | (no subject)

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OOM: [Russell goes home...for one day.]

It just so happens that Russell was wondering about how the whole door to Milliways thing works right as he opened the door to his room.

Silly Russell, now you're stuck in a bar again.

Except for this time the door didn't disappear. And Russell has his battered old notebook and pencil with him. And chalk. Just in case he has to use alchemy.

Russell decides to stay anyway, he's more prepared this time and, really, the bar is as good a place as any to go over his notes.

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"It could be. Some stuff is weirdly different though, so it's all up to chance." Like - like this weird thing called compu-tars, and Ed's not sure if anyone could be sick if they have really really smart machines that advised you and made things go into space.

But you never knew.

But they'll have a better chance now, he hopes, and Russell's glad for any information.

"I'll definitely look into it," Russell grins, "there has to be something to set us in the right direction."

"I'll ask around too," Ed says, "When I can. If anyone knows anything, I'll point 'em at you."

"I'd appreciate that," Russell says sincerely.

"From where we're at now, there is still a long way to go."

"Yeah, but." Ed suddenly finds the ground a very interesting thing to look at. "It's you. You'll get it done."

He didn't just compliment Russell. Really. You're imagining things.

Russell can control his emotions easily enough but that doesn't stop his face from turning pink.

He glaces at his notebook, trying to hide behind his hair.

"I...well...it's not just me, Fletcher helps too. And you now, I guess..."

Poor Russell is embarassed.

Ed doesn't miss the fact Russell is blushing when he glances at him; he really isn't sure what to make of that. Part of him is very tempted to tease him for it, but.

It somehow doesn't feel right after being honest.

"A guy can get all the help in the world and screw it over if they're not any good," he says. "Don't downplay yourself. It's an insult."

Russell doesn't look directly at Ed.

"Thanks. It's...well...I'm hardly as good as you are..." he continues on, still trying to be modest.

Obviously not realizing what he just said until...

Oh.

Well, he believes it's true anyway.

...hey. That wasn't fair. Russ wasn't supposed to compliment back. Ed blinks, and finds himself lacking again of all his usual answers.

"....we'll see," He says, finally. "I'm a bit rusty, but I'm sure as heck working on it again now."

Russell is trying to regain his composure during all this.

"It couldn't be that difficult to get back in to," he says, more of a question, really.

"It's not," Ed says, grinning a little. "I made sure not to forget anything, so it's not really about that. It's just getting used to the fact I can use it."

"It must be difficult to live in a world without alchemy."

He wonders how Ed can even stand it.

But he doesn't ask.

"I think," Ed says dryly, "If I didn't have this place, I might go insane."

"It is a nice place," Russell agrees. It's grown on him quickly to his surprise.

He grins, "never been in such an upscale bar before, anyway."

Not that he's been in that many bars in the first place.

"What," Ed says, "You been in many? Never figured you for a drunk."

Yes, he's joking.

"A few," he says smugly.

Then he cracks another grin, to show he's just kidding.

"Actually, just the one in Xenotime and that place had nothing on this one."

"Just be careful for blond females," Ed advises him. "They're crazy."

That may or may not be a universal truth.

"I'll keep that in mind. Wouldn't want to get into any trouble."

He pauses.

"You must know from experience," he says casually.

Ed gives him a falsely shocked look.

"Digging for dirt, Russell?"

Still casual.

"Just curious. Obviously, you must have met a lot of crazy blondes in order to come to such a conclusion."

"Just two. But that was more than enough."

"Only two? You must have the worst luck, they can't all be that bad."

Which is proof that Russell has not yet met Winry.

Ed snorts at him.

"Try meeting one of 'em sometime, you'll see."

He says this with love for both, of course. In case any of them are somehow watching.

Russell's not so sure he wants to now, if Ed can't handle them...

"Tell me their names and I will then," Russell grins anyway.

"I'll do you one better. I'll introduce you to one. She's my roommate here."

Ed pauses.

"Not now, but next time you're both around."