Tenth File. [ backdated to monsterfield! ]

[clarities]

[ After the pod people, the blob, growing unexpectedly, what was next that Mayfield had in store for them?

Monsters.

Monsters.

Well, this ought to be fun. ]

[ Action: Mayfield High. ]

[ Those of you who see her, she may be a little bit off from the person she's been lately. But, it must be because she's so busy, right? After all, she has the concert on top of her projects with her alchemy lessons on the side. Surely she must be okay, right? Well, don't expect her to be too conversational around you if you don't know her too well. ]

[ Action: On the Way Home ]

[ Oh, no! It looks like one of the monsters, specifically a crab has Diana tight in its' pincers! But, wait - was it stopped from its' raging stampede? Well, upon a closer look, Diana has one hand on her hip and her other hand is busy pointing accusingly at the robot. She is not in the mood for these kind of shenanigans! ]

You must have some form of intelligent life in you, so I'll ask you to politely put me back down on my feet. I've no use to you at all. To you, I probably taste bad and you'd get tired of me quickly.

So, put me down. Now.

[ The crab stares at Diana. It doesn't know what to do. Why was a fleshy human bag thing talking to it? SIMPLE CRAB is confused! SIMPLE CRAB hurt itself in its' confusion! What will TRAINER DIANA do?

TRAINER DIANA used PERSUASION! It's super effective! Soon, Simple Crab gently puts Diana down on her feet. ]

Good boy. Now, can you sit for me?

[ Simple Crab sat down like a good crab! It looks like it wants to be scratched! ]

Well... only because you've been a good boy. Don't get any ideas, yeah?

[ Diana approaches the crab and gives it a little scritch on the top of its' head. She seems to be smiling just a bit, too. At least there was something sort of familiar to her in Mayfield.

You may now be promptly weirded out at this. ]

Comments

[unexculpable]

[Because he's about to get all up in your emotional space that's why. Welcome to friendship, Diana. He waits until the make it to the sidewalk to ask his question.]

So are you going to keep pretending everything's sunshine and roses or are you going to be smart and just tell me what's going on? You've been acting weird all day, don't think I didn't notice.

[notalwystrthful.livejournal.com]

[ I liked it when I was closed off from my emotions, dammit. She stops, looks to the side uneasily and sighs. ]

Sorry, I'm still getting used to this whole friendship thing. Though, fine, I'll tell you what happened.

Have you ever been deceived to think that people aren't who they seem to be?

[unexculpable]

Yeah, I have.

[where are you going with this Diana? :|]

[notalwystrthful.livejournal.com]

Well... I don't know if it's due to the town's doing or something, but I was in Mr. Mustang's chemistry class on Monday and he was acting off and said a lot of hurtful things towards me.

[ She gives him a transcript (http://canhasfuhrer.livejournal.com/1019.html?thread=31739) of the conversation that happened, all truth and not hiding anything. ]

I don't know how he figured out that I have issues as far as social skills are concerned, something you and I know very well that I'm doing my best to work on, but... it still hurts because I trusted him.

[ She may look like she's fine, but she has been keeping this inside for quite some time and has internalized her feelings. That's what she's done in the past and has continued to do so now. ]

[unexculpable]

[Strangely enough, Ed didn't really come in contact with a lot of pod people. The one's he did he didn't know well enough to notice a difference or was able to write it off as general crankiness/jackassery. He never ran into someone he knew.

He takes it and starts to read, stopping once he read the first thing that Mustang said to her. His brows furrow and he goes over it another time, looking incredulous. As he continues to read his eyes widen in disbelief and he purses his lips, frowning. When he finishes it, he goes right back to the beginning and reads it all over again. He doesn't think Diana's lying. She wouldn't lie about something like this and he knows the Colonel can be an ass, but not like this.

He stays silent, his fingers already beginning to make the edges of the paper crumple.]

That bastard... what the hell was wrong with him?

Do you mind if I keep this, Di?

[notalwystrthful.livejournal.com]

[ Diana worries about Ed's reaction, but it's not like she can help it. They're friends and this sort of thing happens when one of them is upset with something.

She wants to apologize since she knows she should deal with her own problems like a big girl does and not go to other people about them, but when it comes to someone that she trusted, how can she do that? ]

I... don't know. I wanted to believe that it wasn't him and it was just a cruel prank pulled by the town, but it sounded so much like him and acted like him, so I didn't know what to do other than get up, slam the door and run down the hallways visibly upset.

But, go ahead. You can keep it.

[unexculpable]

[He nods, carefully folding up the paper and stuffing it in his pocket.]

Thanks.

[He rubs his temple shaking his head.]

Look, I'm gonna talk to him, see what was going on. Don't let what he said get to you, got it? You're better than that.

[notalwystrthful.livejournal.com]

[ All she can do is nod quietly as she feels like one of her many masks is slipping and falling. She feels like this is something she can do and finally take one more step towards being her own person. ]

Can I have a hug? Please?

[ It means a lot for her to say that. She doesn't like people touching her, so to ask for a hug says a lot about how much she trusts him. ]

1/2

[unexculpable]

[Then surely she will be able to understand why he's taken aback at the request. He knows she doesn't like people touching her and for her to ask for a hug not only shows her trust in him, but... it says a hell of a lot about just how much this hurt her.]

[unexculpable]

[A bit of a smile tugs at his lips and without another word he wraps his arms around her and pulls her into a hug]

[notalwystrthful.livejournal.com]

[ Her body is stiff at first, but she finally lets her shield down for once. She drops what's in her arms and returns the hug. She buries her head in his chest and... is she actually sniffling and crying a bit?

Yeah, she is. ]

Thank you... Thank you so much, Ed.

[unexculpable]

[FJDKLSADF OH MY GOD HE IS THE WORST HOW DOES HE ALWAYS MANAGE TO MAKE GIRLS CRY. EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT HIS FAULT. AUGHHHHHH HIS LIFE.

Still. The fact remains that Diana is, indeed, crying and that is not acceptable. He stays quiet for a moment, hugging her tight]

You don't have to thank me, Di.

[notalwystrthful.livejournal.com]

[ IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT. SHE'S JUST TOUCHED, OKAY? OKAY.

Her own grip tightens on him and she doesn't speak - just lets the sounds of quiet sobbing come out first. ]

I'm... I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't cry, but it... it hurts, you know?

[unexculpable]

[He knows but stiiiiiill.]

Don't be stupid. There's nothing wrong with crying, Di.

It hurts. I know it hurts. It sucks and it's not right and it's not fair, but it's gonna be ok. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for. Just gotta keep moving, you can't let this stop you.

[notalwystrthful.livejournal.com]

[ She doesn't feel strong, but that does give her some pause. ]

You... You think I'm strong? [ She raises a hand to brush at her eyes, still rather unhappy, but that does make her feel a bit better. ]

[unexculpable]

[Ed laughs a little, pulling away just far enough to be able to look her in the eye]

I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it. Look, I've only known you for a couple of months, but you've changed a lot since the first time we met. It takes a lot of courage to start opening up to people, even just a little bit. You've got a good head on your shoulders and you've got one hell of a strong heart.

[notalwystrthful.livejournal.com]

[ kghfdsjkhk HOW DOES SHE HOLD ALL THESE FEELINGS. WHAT ARE THESE THINGS SHE IS FEELING. WHAT DO.

No, srsly - what do. She is stunned beyond words because NICENESS. AND COMPLIMENTS. WHAT DO.

So, give her a moment or two or five to try to think of a response. ]

[unexculpable]

[Yeah, niceness happens sometimes. WEIRD HOW THAT WORKS.]

I'll go talk to him, ok? You just keep your head up. Keep being the best you that you can be.

[notalwystrthful.livejournal.com]

[ It is!

Though, she takes out a handkerchief and wipes her eyes with it before blowing her nose. ]

Thank you, Ed. I mean it. You're the best friend I could have.

[unexculpable]

[He cracks a grin]

Same here, Di.

[notalwystrthful.livejournal.com]

[ Well, give her a moment to fully process that before she gives Ed a tighter hug and she's smiling. ]

Thank you...

[unexculpable]

Ah, nothing to thank me for.

[notalwystrthful.livejournal.com]

Dummy, I want to thank you. You've been a big help to me so far.

[unexculpable]

[he laughs a little. he doesn't feel like he's done anything at all.]

I haven't done all that much, really. But... for what's it worth, you're welcome.

[notalwystrthful.livejournal.com]

Trust me, you have.

[ But, after she makes sure she looks presentable, she scratches the side of her cheek a little nervously. ]

...Did you want to go and do something?