fandomtownies | Wellspring Arms

Entry tags:

Wellspring Arms - Tuesday

Edward may have forgotten that the point of being at the Arms every Tuesday was to work. He'd completed all the basic tasks needed to open the store, yes, but then he dove into the pile of books he carried down to town with him and now was furiously sketching a possible new transmutation circle into his notebook.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Except when he runs back for Computer class.

Cable came downstairs during the morning, a dog trailing after him. He was carrying a few boxes and moved quietly into the store area, giving Ed a nod as he did so.

Ed nodded back.

But really only because the dog caught his attention.

"Tether's going to be a presence in the store for the time being." Until Cable finally found a good place to deposit the dog at, anyway. He opened one of the cases and got to filling it with the contents of one of the boxes.

Tether wandered quietly over to Ed, his tail wagging respectably.

Right. Like Black Hayate was only a presence in Mustang's offices for a few days.

He held his hand out to Tether, pushing his book and pen back so they were out of reach. "He's a nice pup. How big will he get?"

"Big," Cable offered, ever informative.

Tether stuck his nose carefully in the palm of Ed's hand, sniffing with focused concentration.

Ed made a face at Tether, starting to move to scratch his ears.

"Did you lose a bet?"

"I don't bet." Cable slammed the case back shut again. "He's a friend's idea of a gift."

Tether leaned into the scritching contently, and wagged his tail more.

Ed watched Cable over the dog's back. "He seems like he likes you well enough. Dogs are too loyal to be given away."

"Loyalty isn't always a good thing," Cable said, vaguely, moving on to the next case. The dog turned over, shifting his side up against Ed's hands.

He was happy to give Tether more attention, letting his hands scrub through the fur.

"You don't think so?" he asked, watching Cable closely.

Cable glanced momentarily over his shoulder, halfway into filling up this case. "I think it depends on what you're loyal to."

"What are you loyal to?" Edward asked, not figuring he'd get a response.

There was a tiny, tiny hint of a sad smile on Cable's face, but his voice held no reference to it. "A madman's idea of how the world can and should be better."

"Doesn't always have to be madness," Ed pointed out, glancing at his sketches for a moment.

"Depends on who you ask," Cable noted, with a smirk. His job done on this case, he pulled it shut.

"Thought I asked you," Ed smirked back.

"It doesn't matter what anyone calls it. It's a worthwhile goal." Cable took the now-empty box apart. Recycling was key.

He nodded slowly, fingers digging into Tether's fur. "How've you gone about it?"

Cable turned his back to Ed, moving further into the store. "Showing the world what they could be if their put their minds to it. Trying to be a proactive force for change." He glanced up. "Teaching a few people to swim..."

"It's not enough," Ed said quickly. "It doesn't change enough."

Something shifted in Cable's expression as he stared at the window, but he didn't turn around. "It takes time," he said, finally. "And willingness."

He nodded, glancing down at the puppy. "Doesn't everything," he commented, an edge of bitterness in his voice.

"Only the things that are worth it," Cable replied, staying where he was for another few moments before turning around, picking up the folded-up box. The others could come later.

Tether glanced up at him, pressing closer and closer to Ed's legs.

"All things come at a price," Ed remarked, rubbing the gloved fingers of his right hand together. "You don't find out if it's worth it until later."

"The most we can generally hope for..." Cable said, strolling past Ed and the desk towards the doorway, "...is that we made a good start."

He thought of Irene.

Which wasn't good enough.

Ed scratched behind Tether's ears one last time then patted him on the head. "Go with your master, pup."

"In the end, it's important to hope for more," Cable said, simply, "That's what makes the madmen."

He moved up the stairs, Tether taking a moment before bounding after him.

He took a long moment to stare down at his notes, his left hand coming up to rub at his right shoulder unconsciously. Was it enough just to work to get home? Could he work for more here?

...dammit, he didn't want to think about that.

Now with candles!

If you can talk Ed into letting you in.

Or if you're on the list.

Because that's what we do, yo.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Wellspring Arms - Tuesday

Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Re: Talk to Ed

Use the Meditation Room

Use the Gun Range

OOC