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(no subject)

Who: Envy, Lust, and France
Where: Cherrygrove
When: May 8th
Summary: Envy and France fly to pick up a newly-arrived Lust. And of course it's raining. Of course.
Rating: PG
Log:

It's a terrible thing, how the more in a hurry to get somewhere you are, the longer it seems to take. And Envy is definitely in a hurry to get to Cherrygrove, because Lust is there and he hasn't seen her in far too long. He didn't think he'd ever see her again. And not only that, but flying in the rain is not fun, no matter if you have a raincoat or not. But finally, he can see the tops of the little buildings, and he turns back to grin at France over his shoulder. It's hard to talk or hear anything over the rush of wind and the hard patter of rain, so he doesn't try, turning back forward instead. The Tropius they're riding on can see their destination too, and she stretches her neck out and speeds up as much as she can.

She's a steady enough flyer that he can manage to pull his 'Gear out and send off a quick text to Lust.

we're almost there, are you in town yet

When they do reach the sky above the little town, the Tropius starts circling in a low downward spiral, looking for a good place to land. Envy starts steering her towards the inn so that they can get inside as soon as possible, looking for Lust while he does; he thinks he'll be able to spot her if she's down there. He does take a second to turn back to France again, now that there's not as much wind.

"Can you see her?"

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Flying like this remind France of the early days of aviation. It reminds him biplanes and dark skies and faintly of war, although he isn't likely to share the last part because it comes with an odd combination of fear and exhilaration that he became addicted to so very quickly. If he shuts his eyes too long, he feels like he's become unstuck in space and time, so he tries not to, even with all the water getting under his hood and into his eyes.

Envy's question serves to mentally reground him a bit and France leans to the right, keeping a firm hold on Izumi and Envy both. He squints down at the ground, trying his best to pick out defining features on any figures below.

"I'm not sure," he says, switching to look over the left side. "Do you know if she's wearing any particular colours?"

The trip to Cherrygrove had been a less than pleasant one. Weather hadn't ever been a problem before. Rain? Nothing to even give a thought to. But now? Now Lust is cold, her hair plastered into a sodden cocoon around her, and her clothes keep sticking to her uncomfortably. Her hair straggles in her face and no matter how she keeps trying to push it back, it refuses to stay. And she's already snapped the one band she'd tied it up with.

Guttle, on the other hand, has been enjoying the weather. Lust's legs are sodden and muddied from the many times he's enthusiastically rolled by her, kicking up a fine spray.

Humanity is miserable.

When Envy's message comes through, she quickly replies that she's there, waiting. It's a small place, she doesn't imagine she'll be hard to find. Regretfully she steps out from under the overhang she's been sheltering beneath, arms wrapped around herself. Guttle rolls by her in a blur of wet fur and mud, heading for a large puddle off to the side of the road.

"I don't know, probably black..."

He doesn't know what her spare outfit looked like. He squints at the ground; it's hard to see, through all the rain. He's about to text her again to ask what she's wearing, when he spots her. He points, saying loud enough for both France and Izumi to hear, "There, over there!"

Izumi isn't very happy about getting told to land somewhere else when she already picked her spot, but after a long moment of stubbornly wobbling in the air, she turns to go land near Lust. She sets down with a heavy, squelching WHUMP in the mud, folding her palm-frond wings back and making a low, annoyed rumbling noise that couldn't be interpreted any other way than: 'Okay, we're here. Now both of you off.'

Envy doesn't need to be told twice, sliding off her back with practiced ease and striding quickly over to Lust. Yes, let's all get back under that overhang for the moment. In spite of all the miserable rain and mud and travel, he's glad as hell to see her.

"Lust! Did you just get here? Come on, we should go to the inn..."

He starts shrugging off his raincoat, because damn does she ever look like she needs it more than he does.

Edited 2014-05-09 18:42 (UTC)

Black? France squints at the ground, concentrating on trying to pick out a human form. He jolts slightly when Envy announces he's spotted her and then gives an indignified yelp as Izumi descends. Lust's first impression of France may very well be him lurching with that whump of a landing into Envy's back. He clambers off quickly, half out of embarrassment and half simple gladness to be on the ground instead of flying in this weather. He hangs back a bit, posture easy as he watches Envy reunite with who France understands as one akin to a sister. At the mention of the inn, France moves forward, adjusting his hood to give Lust a better view of his face and a friendly, welcoming smile as he gestures up the short road to the inn.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, mademoiselle, but I'll finish my introduction when we are all a bit less waterlogged."

France has learned his introductions tend to take time in this place.

Edited 2014-05-10 20:56 (UTC)

What was that thing?

Lust didn't know what she'd expected, but this certainly isn't it. She gapes openly as Envy makes his entrance, words momentarily failing her. She forgets the rain and cold and how every part of her aches for a moment, clutching her pack and staring wide eyed as Envy dismounts and strides over.

"What...?"

He's not alone, either. Lust looks from Envy to the man she doesn't know, struggling to catch up with what's happening. Guttle, meanwhile, has resumed his enthusiastic rolling, weaving happy circles and figure eights around all and sundry.

It's obvious that she's confused. He finishes getting his coat off and just goes ahead and drops it over her shoulders, figuring that'll help snap her out of it and that she could get the rest herself. He steadies his face into one of his more casual smirks, something she'd recognize as normal, but there's still some of that gladness and relief there too. He tilts his head back in a gesture towards France.

"He's fine, he's with me. And that's one of my Pokemon. We flew here."

Yeah, he agrees with France on getting to the inn before there's too much talking.

"...I'll explain more once we're inside too."

Because there is a whole lot to explain that he probably should have before, but well. No changing that now. He steps back out under the overhang to start moving in the direction of the inn, slowly so she'll have time to get the coat on and follow. He also looks over his shoulder, just in case she was more surprised than he'd realized and wasn't moving. And to avoid tripping over Guttle. The rain is already making his head look like something out of a swamp.

France offers Lust a sympathetic smile before pulling his hood forward to cover his face fully again. Once they reach the inn, he holds the door open, since he's the only one who has had covering all this time.

"I'll get us rooms?" he asks, nodding to the front desk. "One large or two?"

When Envy drapes the coat over her, Lust gives a small shake of her head. She gathers it around her, giving the unfamiliar blond man another look before nodding. She'd ask what Envy was doing with some pleasant young man that looked like a long-lost Elric later.

"Yes, I'd prefer to be inside, thank you."

Though the coat helps as she follows, Guttle at her heels. The rain is miserable and she's eager to be out of it properly. She's already out of food. She doesn't know what she'd do, if Envy weren't here.

She'll leave the room situation to Envy and his blond. She's not planning on paying for anything.

Definitely good to be inside; Izumi gets recalled to her ball when they reach the door, because she'd hardly fit and he doesn't want to leave her running loose outside. No fun letting her terrorize the town's wildlife if he can't even watch.

Envy nods when France offers to get the rooms, shooting him a grateful look. He really is glad that France agreed to this mad scramble in the rain to Cherrygrove with him, especially to get someone that France doesn't actually know. It's not really an expression he would have made, back in Amestris, or if he did it would barely ever have happened.

He brushes long strands of dripping hair out of his face, "Two, I think."

But before France goes to the desk the rooms, he gestures to each of them in turn, "France, this is Lust. Lust, this is France."

Edited 2014-05-16 03:28 (UTC)

Long-lost Elric, oh, dear. France would never make that particular connection on his own, but he's particularly arrogant when it comes to the unique beauty of his looks.

He smiles fondly back at Envy, shifting the bag slung over his shoulder to rummage about for his 'Gear to set up payment. He stops as soon as Envy begins the introduction, though, and extends a hand to Lust, smiling once again in open friendliness and a bit of cheek, too.

"The Republic of France at your service."

What is going on? Lust looks between the two, attempting to hide her confused curiosity.

"Pleasure to meet you." She takes the offered hand, assuming Envy will explain everything at the first opportunity. Because at the moment it seems as though he has a pet crazy man.

Which, at this point, wouldn't even be that much of a shock.

She can't hide all of it, not from him. Envy is going to leave the explanation of France being a personified country up to France, because well. Envy just decided to go with it a long time ago, but Lust is new here and France is much better at explaining that than he is. But there's also the other thing, which he really might as well just get out of the way because it's not like she isn't going to find out very quickly anyway.

"We met a few years ago, we're together now."

So no, not a pet crazy man. Envy looks a little bit defensive and unsure of how she's going to react, but mostly he just looks like he's telling the truth. A truth he's happy to tell, not at all like he would if he were introducing someone he was only pretending to be with.

France is going to put off the explanation of his existence for now as it tends to take up a quite a lot of time. Also, this situation isn't solely about him; this is about Envy and Lust, who France understands to be the equivalent of family. It's not often in this place that anyone gets to do anything resembling a proper meet the family moment.

At Envy's words, France places a hand on the small of Envy's back, light and gentle but clearly supportive. He doesn't lean in to kiss Envy's cheek, although Lust can probably tell from his expression of deep warmth and fondness that that is what his instinct is to do. He smiles, a broad and entirely honest thing.

"Envy's the most wonderful experience this place has and continues to give me. I assure you, I try my utmost best to be what he deserves, although he continuously and rightfully outshines me."

France is a highly affectionate pet crazy man, if you will.

The fact that Envy's with someone doesn't cause any reaction in Lust. She's well aware they're just as capable of forming attachments and relationships just like humans. And France is a handsome man, who clearly enjoys Envy's company.

But then the man keeps speaking and Lust is sure she's hearing wrong. She can't imagine Envy being anyone's most wonderful experience anywhere. She'd personally watched him slaughter an entire town.

"Congratulations," she says, smoothly. Because what else can she say? How much could possibly happen in three years?

Though she supposed the answer was right in front of her.

"That we should all be so lucky."

Honestly, Envy's still not sure why France thinks he's so wonderful, but he certainly doesn't mind whenever France says things like that...it's nice, to think that he's managed that, even if he doesn't know what he's doing. His expression softens some, noticeably so, as he glances up at him. It's not as much compared to France's open declarations and affections, but for Envy in front of other people, it's a lot.

"It is lucky."

...and probably also very strange for Lust, whoops. He straightens, almost self consciously. "We should probably get those rooms though."

Privacy for better explanations, and more importantly towels and dry clothes. Between them, they're dripping enough water on the floor for a small lake.

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