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whiskeycoffeeTitle: Some Other Beginning
Author: m.jules
Rating: Hard R for the whole thing
Summary: "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." Alphonse Elric helps Roy Mustang face life after more tragedy than one man should endure and finds something for himself in the process.
Pairing: mainly Roy/Al, with hints of and references to others. (Including, but not limited to, Ed/Winry, Al/Paninya, Gracia/Maes/Roy/Riza, and Al/Elicia.)
Disclaimer: Arakawa would KILL me. I bow low in supplication.
Author's Notes: This was meant to be "The Story That Proves In-Character Roy/Al Is Possible." Don't know if it worked. For my![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
7stages claim, prompt "New every morning."
Thank you to my betas, who - when I said, "OK, now I'm off to write the dragon's wedding," came back with, "Use that for the chapter title and I mean it." *grin* (Even though I hate weddings in fics and I think it sort of showed up here. Oops.)
And thanks to everyone reading who is being patient while RL kicks me up one side and down the other.
I am posting one chapter every Sunday/Monday. Previous chapters can be found here.
Roy's gift of earrings seemed to have won him more than just a few minutes of Ed's good manners - or what passed for them. As Al turned down the covers on the cot, Ed said a subdued good night and retreated. Not once during the entire evening had he said anything to Mustang that could have been construed as rude or antagonistic and had even gone so far as to make polite small talk once or twice during dinner. Then again, Roy hadn't provoked him at all either. Alphonse could tell that Roy was feeling strained though he bore up under it so well Al guessed no one else had noticed. He didn't know if it was simply the physical exhaustion of the trip or the emotional drain of the upcoming ceremony, but either way, Roy was entitled to a little coddling, Al thought.
At first, when Ed had dropped them off in Al's bedroom and gone in search of a cot, Al had given Roy plenty of space, sure that the older man wouldn't be receptive of attention from his new lover after having been so poignantly reminded of Hawkeye. Roy had settled cautiously on the edge of the mattress on the wide bed and looked out the window. Al had paused from where he was pulling their suits out of their suitcases and putting them on hangers so the wrinkles would hang out before the next morning and watched, wondering if Roy noticed the delicate vinework on the casement.
Finally, suits safe on their hangers and pajamas laid out in readiness for the evening, Al quietly went to stand on the other side of the window. It was late afternoon and the sun was slanting over the field, throwing rays of light through the leafy branches of the huge oak tree and dappling the soft summer grass with shadows. A gentle breeze was blowing and Al couldn't resist opening the window to let the wind touch his face. He inhaled deeply, eyes half-closing at the familiar scents that greeted him.
"It's beautiful here," Roy said quietly, bringing Al's attention back to him with a start. Roy smiled and looked up at Al. "It suits you, somehow."
Al tilted his head, wondering for a brief, heart-stopping moment if Roy was going to suggest ending their affair so that Al could move back to Resembool like Ed had suggested so often. "What do you mean?"
"I don't really know." Roy laughed. "Just that this -" he motioned out the window at the landscape, "reminds me of you."
Al looked back out the window at everything and felt something sharp and sweet well up in him. "It feels... like home," Al admitted.
"Exactly." Al's surprised gaze found Roy's face but Mustang was simply nodding, his eyes fixed on the golden rays of the sun on the meadow. "Yes, that's exactly it." Al became aware that his mouth was hanging open and closed it with a snap. Before he could say anything, the door opened and Ed wheeled in the cot.
"Thank you, Ed," Roy had said politely. "That looks very comfortable."
"You'll never find out," Al had interjected with forced lightness. "You're sleeping in the bed. I won't have you complaining all day tomorrow that you didn't sleep well."
Now, as Al fluffed up the pillow on the cot, Roy sat uneasily on the mattress of the bed and watched him, a little frown creasing his forehead. "Alphonse," he said. "You aren't really intending to sleep on the cot?"
"Not unless you just want your space tonight, Roy," Al answered candidly. He stopped and turned, looking at Mustang. "Do you?"
"Not particularly," Roy smiled. Al returned the smile and punched the pillow in the center a few times. He would do it again in the morning to make it look like he'd slept there.
Satisfied with his ruse, Al turned to Roy. He had actually intended not to do anything with the man while they were in Resembool but after everything that afternoon, he didn't think he could hold himself back. Fortunately, Roy didn't seem to mind. Mustang had tilted his head back before Al even reached him, his lips parted in invitation even as Al bent down to steal a kiss. Roy pushed himself back onto the mattress and Al followed, unwilling to break contact. Roy lounged back against the pillows and Al settled between his thighs, kissing him ardently. The gift Mustang had given Winry and the words that afternoon about the countryside reminding him of Al had all gone straight to a place in Alphonse's heart that made him want to hold onto Roy and not let go for a very long time.
Al kissed and licked his way down Roy's neck, then down his torso, pushing Mustang's shirt up to taste the flesh there. As he licked across Roy's belly, hooking his fingers into the waistband of Roy's pajamas, Al murmured against the older man's skin, "Tell me if you need me to stop."
Roy made an incoherent noise that didn't sound anything like a protest and Al slid the pajama pants down Mustang's thighs. The man was already half-erect and a thought flitted through Al's mind that he really didn't know how to do what he was about to do, but he didn't dwell on it. Some part of him needed to do this, needed to please Roy this way. He swiped his tongue across the head of Roy's cock, surprised at the taste of it. Roy moaned and Al did it again. When Roy's fingers twisted into Al's golden hair, the younger man opened his mouth and slid it down over the swollen flesh. Roy gasped and Al rubbed his tongue along the underside of Roy's cock, suckling lightly. He was really only going on instinct and a few hazy memories of the rare occasions Paninya had tried this with him.
Apparently, his instincts weren't all wrong if the way Roy's hips twitched with every new motion was anything to go by. There were muffled noises that Al assumed were Roy trying to be quiet and couldn't help but feel pleased with his success. Before long, Al felt Roy tugging on his hair and dimly heard the man rasp, "Al, Al - I'm... I'm almost..."
For a split second, Al seriously considered swallowing, but he wanted to kiss Roy more and he wasn't sure how the older man would feel about that. He pulled away just before Roy's cock gave a hard twitch and Mustang came on Al's throat, a few drops splattering up over the boy's chin and cheeks. Al flinched in surprise but didn't move, hovering over Roy's stomach and hips as the older man lay still, panting hard. Without warning, Roy's hands cupped Al's jaw, dragging the younger man up his body to his mouth. Roy's fingers smeared the white viscous substance over Al's skin as they kissed and Al felt himself trembling with emotion. When they broke apart, Roy licked over Al's face, cleaning him a little, before he licked his own fingers clean as well. Al felt himself go even hotter as he watched and his cock twitched against Roy's thigh. I guess that answers the question of whether he minds the taste, some distant part of his mind noted.
Roy smiled, his eyes glittering dangerously, and he pushed Al over onto his back. "See if you can stay quiet," Roy murmured, kissing the underside of the boy's jaw where there were still traces of Roy's pleasure. "It's your turn now."
Roy hadn't seen Al since the young man had slipped into his tuxedo after breakfast and gone to join his brother. Now, some three hours later, Roy was seated outside, watching while the chairs slowly filled up in anticipation of the wedding ceremony. He'd glimpsed Paninya once as she went tearing across the yard, tossing him a jaunty wave, but had otherwise been left to his own devices. His mind wandered to the night before, recalling the way Al had thrown back his head, biting his fist to keep from crying out loud as Roy had put some of his rusty skills to good use. Mustang had to admit that some devious part of him felt just a little gleeful to have done such a thing right under Ed's nose the night before Fullmetal's wedding but he'd never admit to it. And as much as he had enjoyed himself, his mind kept returning not to the pleasure itself but to what had taken place afterward.
It hadn't taken Alphonse long to fall asleep after his release, though the young man had at least gotten them cleaned up a bit first. He had drifted off before Roy, however, and when Roy had turned and spooned up behind him, Al had snuggled in and said sleepily, "Mmm, Roy... love you..."
Roy still remembered the way his heart had stuttered to a stop, something inside of him freezing in surprise. He'd wrapped his arms around Al's waist and kissed the boy's jaw, whispering, "Alphonse?" but Al hadn't responded except for a soft snore. Roy had lain awake for a long while after that, lost in thoughts that circled like vultures, getting him nowhere.
Now, a motion beside him startled him out of his contemplation and he looked up to see Gracia settling into the chair on his right side. She looked lovely in a pale green dress that matched her eyes and for one instant, time seemed to warp and bend, leaving Roy confused about where he was. For a half second it had felt like he was at Maes' wedding, telling his best friend and lover that it was okay, just to calm down; nothing was going to change between the four of them now that he and Gracia were getting married.
"You two are the only ones who can get married, Hughes," he remembered reasoning. "But Riza and I will still be part of this, even though we can't publicize it like this."
"Gracia," he said now, half-nervous. He hadn't seen her in a long, long time. "You look beautiful, as always."
"Thank you," Gracia answered with a smile. She stared at him for a moment without saying anything until he almost fidgeted in his chair like an errant schoolboy under scrutiny. "It's good to see you again."
"Sorry," he blurted almost immediately. He had felt much the same after Maes' death, almost unable to face her, somehow guilty for not being able to save her husband and even more ashamed for avoiding her afterward. In fact, Riza had been the one to eventually insist that he stop moping and rejoin them. Now this time it's Riza who's gone.
"You don't need to apologize, Roy," Gracia assured him with a gentle, knowing smile, and just like that, a great weight lifted from his shoulders. "I know." Those two little words said so much and Roy knew she meant every unspoken syllable. She sat back in her chair and looked toward the front where someone was making a last-minute touch up to some of the flowers. The ceremony would begin in a few minutes.
"We were supposed to be here last night," Gracia said after a little while. "But we ended up being delayed until it was too late for me to feel comfortable traveling with an eight-year-old."
Roy wondered what delays they could have possibly run into but didn't feel comfortable asking. "Where is Elicia?" he asked instead, looking around as if he might catch a glimpse.
"She's with Winry and Paninya, getting into her dress," Gracia said with a laugh. "She got very upset yesterday when she thought she would have to walk down the aisle with a boy of all creatures." Gracia's eyes twinkled. "I think she was half-scared it meant that she was getting married."
Roy grinned. "Someday she might not mind so much."
"That's what I told her," Gracia agreed. "Not that she believed me. Boys are icky, after all."
Roy chuckled. "We are, indeed."
The small seating area filled quickly and there was a low buzz of conversation that made it difficult to hear without raising one's voice, so Gracia and Roy didn't speak much except for a little small-talk here and there. The ceremony was short and simple ("Like you, Fullmetal," Roy might have said once) but very lovely. It was performed by the judge from town and, contrary to everyone's expectations, ended without any explosions or wrenches to the head. Winry looked stunning in her strapless white dress with her hair pulled back to show her new earrings and Roy was half-surprised that she wasn't carrying a wrench in place of a bouquet. Edward actually looked presentable (Roy might almost call him 'handsome' if he was feeling charitable), in a finely tailored suit that had to have been someone else's doing. Elicia and Paninya stood to one side behind Winry in matching light blue dresses, occasionally trading glances and giggles, while Al stood on the other side behind Ed with a young boy from town whose father was one of Winry and Pinako's patients. Pinako herself sat on the front row, smoking a pipe and looking very pleased with herself.
The ceremony itself was short and to the point, and when Ed and Winry kissed, Pinako let out a whoop that startled Roy and made Al and Gracia laugh. Winry looked almost - but not quite - embarrassed and Ed turned around with a snarl, yelling an unrepeatable insult at the old woman, who returned the favor without missing a beat. Roy shook his head, grinning. As the newlyweds moved down the aisle, beaming like the young lovers they were, Gracia leaned over to Roy and nudged his knee gently with her hand.
"You look happy," she noted, her eyes darting up front to find Alphonse before returning to his face.
Roy followed her look, watching as Al took Paninya's arm and followed Elicia and her escort down the aisle in his brother's footsteps. The young man was talking and laughing companionably with Paninya but that didn't stop him from finding Roy and giving Mustang a broad grin.
"I am... content," he said to Gracia, surprised to find that it was true.
She put her hand on his and squeezed gently. "I'm so glad."
Author: m.jules
Rating: Hard R for the whole thing
Summary: "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." Alphonse Elric helps Roy Mustang face life after more tragedy than one man should endure and finds something for himself in the process.
Pairing: mainly Roy/Al, with hints of and references to others. (Including, but not limited to, Ed/Winry, Al/Paninya, Gracia/Maes/Roy/Riza, and Al/Elicia.)
Disclaimer: Arakawa would KILL me. I bow low in supplication.
Author's Notes: This was meant to be "The Story That Proves In-Character Roy/Al Is Possible." Don't know if it worked. For my
7stages claim, prompt "New every morning." Thank you to my betas, who - when I said, "OK, now I'm off to write the dragon's wedding," came back with, "Use that for the chapter title and I mean it." *grin* (Even though I hate weddings in fics and I think it sort of showed up here. Oops.)
And thanks to everyone reading who is being patient while RL kicks me up one side and down the other.
I am posting one chapter every Sunday/Monday. Previous chapters can be found here.
Roy's gift of earrings seemed to have won him more than just a few minutes of Ed's good manners - or what passed for them. As Al turned down the covers on the cot, Ed said a subdued good night and retreated. Not once during the entire evening had he said anything to Mustang that could have been construed as rude or antagonistic and had even gone so far as to make polite small talk once or twice during dinner. Then again, Roy hadn't provoked him at all either. Alphonse could tell that Roy was feeling strained though he bore up under it so well Al guessed no one else had noticed. He didn't know if it was simply the physical exhaustion of the trip or the emotional drain of the upcoming ceremony, but either way, Roy was entitled to a little coddling, Al thought.
At first, when Ed had dropped them off in Al's bedroom and gone in search of a cot, Al had given Roy plenty of space, sure that the older man wouldn't be receptive of attention from his new lover after having been so poignantly reminded of Hawkeye. Roy had settled cautiously on the edge of the mattress on the wide bed and looked out the window. Al had paused from where he was pulling their suits out of their suitcases and putting them on hangers so the wrinkles would hang out before the next morning and watched, wondering if Roy noticed the delicate vinework on the casement.
Finally, suits safe on their hangers and pajamas laid out in readiness for the evening, Al quietly went to stand on the other side of the window. It was late afternoon and the sun was slanting over the field, throwing rays of light through the leafy branches of the huge oak tree and dappling the soft summer grass with shadows. A gentle breeze was blowing and Al couldn't resist opening the window to let the wind touch his face. He inhaled deeply, eyes half-closing at the familiar scents that greeted him.
"It's beautiful here," Roy said quietly, bringing Al's attention back to him with a start. Roy smiled and looked up at Al. "It suits you, somehow."
Al tilted his head, wondering for a brief, heart-stopping moment if Roy was going to suggest ending their affair so that Al could move back to Resembool like Ed had suggested so often. "What do you mean?"
"I don't really know." Roy laughed. "Just that this -" he motioned out the window at the landscape, "reminds me of you."
Al looked back out the window at everything and felt something sharp and sweet well up in him. "It feels... like home," Al admitted.
"Exactly." Al's surprised gaze found Roy's face but Mustang was simply nodding, his eyes fixed on the golden rays of the sun on the meadow. "Yes, that's exactly it." Al became aware that his mouth was hanging open and closed it with a snap. Before he could say anything, the door opened and Ed wheeled in the cot.
"Thank you, Ed," Roy had said politely. "That looks very comfortable."
"You'll never find out," Al had interjected with forced lightness. "You're sleeping in the bed. I won't have you complaining all day tomorrow that you didn't sleep well."
Now, as Al fluffed up the pillow on the cot, Roy sat uneasily on the mattress of the bed and watched him, a little frown creasing his forehead. "Alphonse," he said. "You aren't really intending to sleep on the cot?"
"Not unless you just want your space tonight, Roy," Al answered candidly. He stopped and turned, looking at Mustang. "Do you?"
"Not particularly," Roy smiled. Al returned the smile and punched the pillow in the center a few times. He would do it again in the morning to make it look like he'd slept there.
Satisfied with his ruse, Al turned to Roy. He had actually intended not to do anything with the man while they were in Resembool but after everything that afternoon, he didn't think he could hold himself back. Fortunately, Roy didn't seem to mind. Mustang had tilted his head back before Al even reached him, his lips parted in invitation even as Al bent down to steal a kiss. Roy pushed himself back onto the mattress and Al followed, unwilling to break contact. Roy lounged back against the pillows and Al settled between his thighs, kissing him ardently. The gift Mustang had given Winry and the words that afternoon about the countryside reminding him of Al had all gone straight to a place in Alphonse's heart that made him want to hold onto Roy and not let go for a very long time.
Al kissed and licked his way down Roy's neck, then down his torso, pushing Mustang's shirt up to taste the flesh there. As he licked across Roy's belly, hooking his fingers into the waistband of Roy's pajamas, Al murmured against the older man's skin, "Tell me if you need me to stop."
Roy made an incoherent noise that didn't sound anything like a protest and Al slid the pajama pants down Mustang's thighs. The man was already half-erect and a thought flitted through Al's mind that he really didn't know how to do what he was about to do, but he didn't dwell on it. Some part of him needed to do this, needed to please Roy this way. He swiped his tongue across the head of Roy's cock, surprised at the taste of it. Roy moaned and Al did it again. When Roy's fingers twisted into Al's golden hair, the younger man opened his mouth and slid it down over the swollen flesh. Roy gasped and Al rubbed his tongue along the underside of Roy's cock, suckling lightly. He was really only going on instinct and a few hazy memories of the rare occasions Paninya had tried this with him.
Apparently, his instincts weren't all wrong if the way Roy's hips twitched with every new motion was anything to go by. There were muffled noises that Al assumed were Roy trying to be quiet and couldn't help but feel pleased with his success. Before long, Al felt Roy tugging on his hair and dimly heard the man rasp, "Al, Al - I'm... I'm almost..."
For a split second, Al seriously considered swallowing, but he wanted to kiss Roy more and he wasn't sure how the older man would feel about that. He pulled away just before Roy's cock gave a hard twitch and Mustang came on Al's throat, a few drops splattering up over the boy's chin and cheeks. Al flinched in surprise but didn't move, hovering over Roy's stomach and hips as the older man lay still, panting hard. Without warning, Roy's hands cupped Al's jaw, dragging the younger man up his body to his mouth. Roy's fingers smeared the white viscous substance over Al's skin as they kissed and Al felt himself trembling with emotion. When they broke apart, Roy licked over Al's face, cleaning him a little, before he licked his own fingers clean as well. Al felt himself go even hotter as he watched and his cock twitched against Roy's thigh. I guess that answers the question of whether he minds the taste, some distant part of his mind noted.
Roy smiled, his eyes glittering dangerously, and he pushed Al over onto his back. "See if you can stay quiet," Roy murmured, kissing the underside of the boy's jaw where there were still traces of Roy's pleasure. "It's your turn now."
Roy hadn't seen Al since the young man had slipped into his tuxedo after breakfast and gone to join his brother. Now, some three hours later, Roy was seated outside, watching while the chairs slowly filled up in anticipation of the wedding ceremony. He'd glimpsed Paninya once as she went tearing across the yard, tossing him a jaunty wave, but had otherwise been left to his own devices. His mind wandered to the night before, recalling the way Al had thrown back his head, biting his fist to keep from crying out loud as Roy had put some of his rusty skills to good use. Mustang had to admit that some devious part of him felt just a little gleeful to have done such a thing right under Ed's nose the night before Fullmetal's wedding but he'd never admit to it. And as much as he had enjoyed himself, his mind kept returning not to the pleasure itself but to what had taken place afterward.
It hadn't taken Alphonse long to fall asleep after his release, though the young man had at least gotten them cleaned up a bit first. He had drifted off before Roy, however, and when Roy had turned and spooned up behind him, Al had snuggled in and said sleepily, "Mmm, Roy... love you..."
Roy still remembered the way his heart had stuttered to a stop, something inside of him freezing in surprise. He'd wrapped his arms around Al's waist and kissed the boy's jaw, whispering, "Alphonse?" but Al hadn't responded except for a soft snore. Roy had lain awake for a long while after that, lost in thoughts that circled like vultures, getting him nowhere.
Now, a motion beside him startled him out of his contemplation and he looked up to see Gracia settling into the chair on his right side. She looked lovely in a pale green dress that matched her eyes and for one instant, time seemed to warp and bend, leaving Roy confused about where he was. For a half second it had felt like he was at Maes' wedding, telling his best friend and lover that it was okay, just to calm down; nothing was going to change between the four of them now that he and Gracia were getting married.
"You two are the only ones who can get married, Hughes," he remembered reasoning. "But Riza and I will still be part of this, even though we can't publicize it like this."
"Gracia," he said now, half-nervous. He hadn't seen her in a long, long time. "You look beautiful, as always."
"Thank you," Gracia answered with a smile. She stared at him for a moment without saying anything until he almost fidgeted in his chair like an errant schoolboy under scrutiny. "It's good to see you again."
"Sorry," he blurted almost immediately. He had felt much the same after Maes' death, almost unable to face her, somehow guilty for not being able to save her husband and even more ashamed for avoiding her afterward. In fact, Riza had been the one to eventually insist that he stop moping and rejoin them. Now this time it's Riza who's gone.
"You don't need to apologize, Roy," Gracia assured him with a gentle, knowing smile, and just like that, a great weight lifted from his shoulders. "I know." Those two little words said so much and Roy knew she meant every unspoken syllable. She sat back in her chair and looked toward the front where someone was making a last-minute touch up to some of the flowers. The ceremony would begin in a few minutes.
"We were supposed to be here last night," Gracia said after a little while. "But we ended up being delayed until it was too late for me to feel comfortable traveling with an eight-year-old."
Roy wondered what delays they could have possibly run into but didn't feel comfortable asking. "Where is Elicia?" he asked instead, looking around as if he might catch a glimpse.
"She's with Winry and Paninya, getting into her dress," Gracia said with a laugh. "She got very upset yesterday when she thought she would have to walk down the aisle with a boy of all creatures." Gracia's eyes twinkled. "I think she was half-scared it meant that she was getting married."
Roy grinned. "Someday she might not mind so much."
"That's what I told her," Gracia agreed. "Not that she believed me. Boys are icky, after all."
Roy chuckled. "We are, indeed."
The small seating area filled quickly and there was a low buzz of conversation that made it difficult to hear without raising one's voice, so Gracia and Roy didn't speak much except for a little small-talk here and there. The ceremony was short and simple ("Like you, Fullmetal," Roy might have said once) but very lovely. It was performed by the judge from town and, contrary to everyone's expectations, ended without any explosions or wrenches to the head. Winry looked stunning in her strapless white dress with her hair pulled back to show her new earrings and Roy was half-surprised that she wasn't carrying a wrench in place of a bouquet. Edward actually looked presentable (Roy might almost call him 'handsome' if he was feeling charitable), in a finely tailored suit that had to have been someone else's doing. Elicia and Paninya stood to one side behind Winry in matching light blue dresses, occasionally trading glances and giggles, while Al stood on the other side behind Ed with a young boy from town whose father was one of Winry and Pinako's patients. Pinako herself sat on the front row, smoking a pipe and looking very pleased with herself.
The ceremony itself was short and to the point, and when Ed and Winry kissed, Pinako let out a whoop that startled Roy and made Al and Gracia laugh. Winry looked almost - but not quite - embarrassed and Ed turned around with a snarl, yelling an unrepeatable insult at the old woman, who returned the favor without missing a beat. Roy shook his head, grinning. As the newlyweds moved down the aisle, beaming like the young lovers they were, Gracia leaned over to Roy and nudged his knee gently with her hand.
"You look happy," she noted, her eyes darting up front to find Alphonse before returning to his face.
Roy followed her look, watching as Al took Paninya's arm and followed Elicia and her escort down the aisle in his brother's footsteps. The young man was talking and laughing companionably with Paninya but that didn't stop him from finding Roy and giving Mustang a broad grin.
"I am... content," he said to Gracia, surprised to find that it was true.
She put her hand on his and squeezed gently. "I'm so glad."
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Date: 2007-05-07 11:09 pm (UTC)Awesome, as always!
(and first comment! WOO!)
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Date: 2007-05-07 11:46 pm (UTC);)
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Date: 2007-05-07 11:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-07 11:41 pm (UTC)Ed is probably the most difficult character in this entire universe for me to write. Fortunately for me,
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Date: 2007-05-08 12:32 am (UTC)I love this chapter, as you know already. Now, I need to get editing....
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Date: 2007-05-08 11:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-08 10:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-08 03:53 am (UTC)*pets him*
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Date: 2007-05-08 11:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-08 06:15 am (UTC)It shows a little that you dislike writing the wedding, I think. The sense of richness I've come to expect in your prose isn't there, but it's an observation and not a complaint. I'm all too aware of those scenes that are just plain hard to write for one reason or another.
I personally found these two lines:
The ceremony was short and simple...
The ceremony itself was short and to the point...
to be a little repetative due to their close proximity, but that's a minor detail.
And now that I've stopped being picky, time to gush!
Absolutely loved this part:
some devious part of him felt just a little gleeful to have done such a thing right under Ed's nose the night before Fullmetal's wedding
Good to see Snarky Roy rearing his head.
The Gracia/Roy interaction was great, just very true to life. A touch of awkward but touching. Very nice.
Also, "The Dragon's Wedding" is a fantastic title. Props to whichever beta demanded it be used.
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Date: 2007-05-08 11:58 am (UTC)And yeah, I totally skipped the ceremony... reading about weddings in fics (unless something unusual happens) gives me hives. Also, going to real weddings does the same thing, so maybe there's a pattern. ;)
And I THINK the beta was ELD. I think. Not sure. Could've been COM. *talks to them both a lot*
CONTINUED EXCELLENCE!
Date: 2007-05-08 06:52 am (UTC)What is the significance of the window in Al's bedroom in Ed's house? I know Al took pride in it when he made it. And when he and Roy were in the room he wondered this:
>>watched, wondering if Roy noticed the
delicate vinework on the casement.<<
And then Roy looking out the window said the view reminded him of Al. And Al said it felt like home. And then Roy said "exactly". And Al was surprised by Roy's comment as if Roy was also saying this felt like home.
There's got to be some symbolic thing you're going for. Are the vines about how all their lives are intertwined? Is the window from that saying "when a door closes a window opens"? because you had al open the window and take a deep breath. I'm starting to think at the end of the story that Al and Roy will be living with Winry and Ed. I loved the sleepy confession of Al saying "love you" to Roy. Loved Al saying to Roy "you make me happy". But was a little disappointed when Roy told Gracia that he was "content". What's going on with these words and symbolic gestures? or am i just reading too much into it? I can't believe you didn't even mention that Al had to be careful to seal the bedroom so that his brother wouldn't catch him snuggled with Roy in the morning when Ed came to wake them for breakfast or something. Was the gift of Riza's earrings to Winry symbolic to Roy; as if he was letting that part of his guilt go? I know it's a lot of questions; but I love this story so much and want to make sure I'm not missing any subtle or symbolic words.Oh and did Gracia let Roy know that she knows he likes Al? Because she said Roy looked happy then looked to Al then back to Roy. Thanks so much for putting so much time and effort into writing and sharing with us; such wonderful stories. I think that Ed should not totally freak out when he finally finds out about Al and Roy's relationship (hopefully he hears it from Al and not 2nd hand). After all; Ed is older and married and more mature. And we all know that he would do anything to make sure his brother is happy. One more question..what are the ages of Al and Roy? Thanks
Re: CONTINUED EXCELLENCE!
Date: 2007-05-08 12:12 pm (UTC)1) The significance of the vinework is basically just that Al made something pretty with Roy in mind, thinking Roy would like it, and wanted to know if Roy noticed. Just one of those little things you do for the person you love, wanting their approval.
2) When Roy says "exactly" about the "feels like home" bit, what he's saying is that *Al* feels like home to him. Which is also why Al acts so surprised when Roy says it.
3) When Roy said he was content, it's just another reflection of how scarred, wounded, and emotionally wrung out he is. Roy is very precise about the words he uses, and "happy" to him implies a giddy, youthful, energetic sort of emotion. He doesn't feel that, but he is well-satisfied with Al. He doesn't mean he's settling, he just means he feels a calm sort of happiness.
4) Roy gave Winry the earrings because he knew there was a special bond between Riza and Winry. (Manga canon really brings that out.) Winry first pierced her ears because she thought Riza's earrings were pretty. (That's mentioned in a gaiden.) So it was basically Roy just giving Winry a meaningful gift, one that he knew Riza would have liked for him to give. It could have something to do with letting go of bits of his past, too.
5) And when Gracia tells Roy "I know" when she tells him there's no need to apologize, that's when she lets him know she knows what's going on.
6) Al, as mentioned in earlier chapters, is nineteen. There is a 15/16 (we can't remember exactly) year difference between them, so Roy is 34 or 35. Around in there.
Re: CONTINUED EXCELLENCE!
Date: 2007-05-09 03:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-08 12:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-08 03:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-09 02:11 pm (UTC)Still enjoying this. The pacing seems to have slowed down even more of late, but I like it. It's a lazy summer day kinda fic.
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Date: 2007-05-10 01:54 am (UTC)It was touching that Roy gave Winry Riza's earrings.
There was more, but I blank completely on comments/reviews. -_-;
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Date: 2007-05-17 01:43 pm (UTC)It's a nice little fuzzy feeling chapter.
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Date: 2007-05-19 05:59 am (UTC)It is good to see Roy coming along, ever so slowly. I wonder if Al even remembers that he told Roy he loved him. At least Roy's dealing with it and not freaking out, even if it kept him up for awhile.
Your Gracia lived up to her name, being beautiful and gracious. Elysia being worried about walking up the aisle with a boy reminded me of the flower girl at my sister's wedding, who caught the bouquet and promptly burst into tears, thinking it meant she'd have to get married in the next year.