Day After Eternity (Closed, day following the bombs)

[Shula Brighton]

Dysinfectant. Bleach. Chemicals that nobody should be able to pronounce. Tubes. Stabby things. Cotton sheets so bleached they'd never be soft ever, ever again. The smell of very clean metal. Shula sighed. She fucking hated the hospital, and more that she seemed to have frequent flyer miles with them. No matter where she was, hospitals knew her records. The only thing was that they were consistent at least; no matter where in the country she was, hospital food always tasted like shit and the smells and feels didn't change. The only thing that did was the reason for being there. Usually it was her lungs and changing her meds to try something new to try and extend her life. She could recite her medical history and pill list in her sleep. At least this time it was for new issues; she just really wished the horrible day that caused them hadn't happened.

All of Amestris' major cities had been decimated by their own leader. Millions all over the country were dead, wounded and missing, and every TV station was flooded with the ongoing progress of search and rescue missions. The Military was doing what they could to help, but things just seemed to keep going from bad to worse all over the country. The Fuhrer signed off to let RIOTE kill so many innocent people in the name of their own ideals. Hild. Hild okayed it. The shock still hadn't worn off, and the world didn't seem really real anymore. The meds certainly didn't help with keeping reality in check, either. Damn morphine drips.

Shula ran her fingers through her hair, tired and restless but unable to sleep, even with the drugs. There was too much on her mind. She couldn't call home, and as the death toll climbed she found herself able to relax less and less. Shock. PTSD. Whatever. The pure horror of a side of human nature she'd never known to exist frightened her, leaving her wondering if she'd ever sleep again. Sighing, she looked at her own body. She felt like a train hit her, even with the happy pain-killers. Damn she wished she were less tolerant of them so they'd dope her up as much as they did for everyone else. All things considered, she'd come out of it all okay, though. There had been a massive gash in her thigh that needed mending, but her ribs had taken the brunt of the damage. Spade had pushed her away from where the pillar fell, but the jagged chunk of building had crashed into her from the point and broken her lower ribs in a few places. The one jutting out of her skin had been the main issue, but thankfully she'd been lucky enough to be put back together. What was troubling was her breathing. Even at rest, she still couldn't breathe, but she wasn't sure if it was because of her ribs or soemthing else...

Grabbing the nurse's hand lightly, Shula looked up at her. She wasn't able to walk right now, and wasn't supposed to move around much. But sitting doing nothing since last evening was driving her insane. Her friends were here. Her boss. Her coworkers. Her people. Her IV drip was done for a while... After some coaxing, the nurse finally caved and helped Shula to the wheelchair. Her best friend, she'd learned, had been brought here after his injury yesterday afternoon and was supposed to fully recover and could see visitors now. Oxygen on the back of the chair and puffing into her nose softly, Shula smiled as she was pushed through the crowded hall to a room a few doors down and knocked against the door's frame.

"Major Schiwatas... You're in SO much trouble right now," Shula said softly, panting faintly just talking and smirked. She distinctly remembered telling Acra not to get hurt.

[Theo Chulainn]

The door opened and casually standing there was a tall man. His blond hair slicked back bar a bang that touched his right eyebrow. His left eyebrow was raised as his lip was curved in a sly smirk. His blue eyes shining in mirth. "Major Schiwatas....that's a new one." The man grinned while dusting off the sleeves of his white coat. "Last time I checked I was a doctor." He let his finger touch the id badge clipped to his breast pocket. ' Doctor Alaric Schiwatas' was printed on it rather clearly.

He let his eye run up and down her. " And what brings a twelve year old to my brothers death bed?" The term was said so casually as he closed the door behind him. "Never knew he was into kiddies....would that mean the mansion would need to go on the sex offenders list?" He was more mumbling to himself and the rings under his eyes and the slight twitch about him showed the man was in overdrive and running on caffeine alone. Then again most of the doctors where in the same condition. He turned back to Shula. "Now little lady remember if he's done anything bad to you that you don't like....kick him in the balls."

[Shula Brighton]

The nurse let go of Shula's chair, leaving her to attend back to her own duties; after all, there was another doctor in the room with them. Shula blinked a moment in confusion; she hadn't expected the doctor to reply to her, but there was something a bit funny about him. He looked exhausted certainly, but those blue eyes and that playful smirk. They were both so like Acra's... And that's when she saw the tag on his lab coat's pocked and smiled warmly at him. So THIS was the doctor brother Acra and Wallace had both mentioned before. Shula pushed her wheelchair forward effortlessly with the practiced hands of experience. "Ah, so you're Alaric! I'm Shu--"

"And what brings a twelve year old to my brothers death bed? Never knew he was into kiddies....would that mean the mansion would need to go on the sex offenders list?" Hackles raised on the back of Shula's neck, her expression an unspoken and sudden urge to bite the tall doctor's knees at the very least. Her eyebrow twitched as she forced a smile. "Um... Dunno what Jiffy Pop there has told you, but this "twelve-year-old" out-ranks him. I'm a lieutenant colonel." Long gold hair hung loosely around her shoulders, clean and concealing the bandages on her cheeks. She really did look quite small in the hospital PJ's and the too-big transport wheelchair.

She looked over to Acra in the bed, and then back to his brother. "Now little lady remember if he's done anything bad to you that you don't like....kick him in the balls." She paused, smirking momentarily before shaking her head and scratching under the tube on her cheek lightly and wheeled closer to Acra's bed. "...As much fun as that sounds, I just came to see if he was okay. Can you wake him up so I can say hi for a few minutes?"

[Theo Chulainn]

He watched her wheel over. " Don't worry Shula. I know all about you." In three long strides he came over to the bed and looked over his currently sleeping brother. Who had fallen asleep surrounded by research books and papers and some device he had tinkered with till he fell asleep. " The git fell asleep about two hours ago." He chuckled towards Shula gently plucking up the wrist of the sleeping man his lips curled up into the most evilest smile. He then snatched the palm tight in glee as the man awoke with a pained scream.

"Morning princess!" The elder brother grinned innocently as if a halo had clicked on above his head. The younger brother was writhing in pain. “ OW ALARIC LET GO!!!” He yelped loudly not noticing that Shula was there. “ Let go or I will tell mom!” He whined thrashing some more until his eyes landed onto the adorable bundle in the wheelchair. “ Oh!….Hey Shu!” And like that his fight with his brother forgotten to wave his bandaged and battered hand at her in greeting.

[Shula Brighton]

Smirking faintly, Shula folded her arms lightly over her chest and rested her elbows on the arm pads of the chair. Rotten man, teasing about her size... But at least it was nice to know Acra had told other people in his family about her and for a moment vaguely wondered what they'd been told or thought. Oh well, at least Alaric seems-- Shula tilted her head slightly as he picked up his brother's wrist, and then glanced around at the mess of books and papers on his bed. She was about to ask what was with all the homework when Alaric grinned maliciously and gripped his brother's injured hand, making the major wake up crying out. --nice?

Shula winced symppathetically, but couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Three magical words that cemented sibling bonds across the countries and always seemed to have the same effect. "I'm Telling Mom." It was like the ultimate weapon; even she and Aaron would both stop in their tracks if that threat was played. She giggled faintly as Acra looked over and finally noticed the tiny blonde in pale blue jammies and rubbed the underside of her nose with the top of her hand that wasn't bandaged from the IV earlier. Damn the cannula itched. "Hey Acra!" Shula pushed herself up to park next to his bed and smiled tiredly, and then gave her friend a childish, huffy pout. "And I'm mad at you... I distinctly remember telling you not to get hurt!" The pout faded back to a smile as she reached her arm to gently squeeze Acra's shoulder; leaning over to hug would have hurt more than a little.

"Spade's on this floor, too. One of the nurses said he was out of surgery, so I thought I'd come and check on people for a little while."

[Theo Chulainn]

Acra frowned when she scolded him. " Oi...You weren't meant to either...." Frown marked deepening when she told him that Spade was here too. " Boss too..." He sighed loudly grabbing up the papers tidying them up and placing them on the books. The device then getting placed on top not only to keep them all in order but to stop the papers from blowing away.

" I only have a bullet wound and messed up hands Shu. You look like you got hit by a truck or something...." Gently placing his hands over her's a small hiss escaping his lips. The heat from the wound could be felt even with the rough bandages between them. " But were safe now.... I guess....even with central.....gone. He sighed softly letting his eyes flick up and down Shula worry clouding his blue irises. Tongue darting over lower lip before they parted he was interrupted by the cough of his brother. " Just so you know...." Alaric began with a grin that could rival the Cheshire cat's. " Sex in the hospital is highly frowned upon."

[Shula Brighton]

The heat radiating from Acra's palms, even through the bandages, was intense and caused her to wince as he hissed. Dummy. If it hurts, don't do that. She moved her thumbs across the edges of the bandages as lightly as humanly possibly, not putting any pressure against his damnaged skin. Shula smiled faintly, looking tired and honestly wanting a hug more than anything but thought better of it (damn that whole moving, bending and hurting like hell thing). "I'm fine, Acra. Promise." Her voice was soft and breathy, the oxygen helping but her body still refusing to take deeper breaths.

She could tell from the look in his eyes that he was just as devastated over the massive lauses and trauma as the rest of them. The shock still hadn't worn off, and so many people were growing more frustrated at not being able to find their families. Shula nodded softly. "We're safe for now, and we all will get through this." She was about to suggest they leave, or she at least head out, when Alaraic teased again, causing the tiny Ishvallan to blush darkly.

"....Se-uh... We aren't... It's not like that!" Brown cheeks couldn't go any more red as she pulled the wheelchair back a little, unable to look up and make eye contact with either of the Schiwata brothers. "C'mon, Acra... If you're allowed to leave your bed, let's go say hi to Spade... I need to thank the Boss for saving my ass out there."

[Theo Chulainn]

Acra's face went crimson. Damn this is why he shouldn't talk to his brother. Damn them drugs that made him very loopy and mouthy. He glowered at his brother under his bangs. "Alaric me and Shu are just friends...and even if we were more. Shula's a respectable lady." Squeezing Shula's hand gently as a apology. "Can I leave and see my boss now?" So with a little help from Alaric Acra was on his feet. His Iv drips beside Shula so she can pull them along while Acra stood at her wheelchair handles gently pushing her at a slow pace.

" So ....the offices are destroyed right?" He said stiffly thinking of all the places that were gone. Wallace had managed to collect his important things from his apartment. Getting his research, his clothes, laptop and favourite coffee mug. Lucky he had insured things....he almost cried when he was told his bike was lost. " Guess that paperwork won't be needed on Monday..." He said trying to lighten the mood as the pair travelled to Spade's room.

[Spade Aeries]

Spade's room was devoid of any such doctor or nurse lady...because they had all been chased out by rumors...rumors. Spade hadn't even gotten the chance to do anything yet besides stare out the window listlessly. The three of them were on the 5th floor of one of the army's specialized hospitals. The grounds were constantly under tight surveillance and it was kept completely top secret for emergencies such as this. When Spade was lucid enough to think, he reckoned it aught to be why no bombs tore this building to the ground. There were cracks in the ceilings, walls, ...floors like it had been hit by an earthquake of some sort, but besides that, there were no obvious damages. This particular hospital acted as an oasis in a sea of smoke and sadness. Spade watched fires burning in the distance from his window at night--the lights flickering against the walls and forming shapes that almost made him want to cry out. The drugs they fed him helped with the imagination certainly, but they also kept away the pain ebbing at his body. He couldn't even bear the forty-five minutes it took between treatments because the aching throbbed at his core and made him feel as if he were being shot over and over again.

He was the womanizer of Central Command that somehow everyone knew about. The times when he saw other humans were either in his dreams or extremely brief glances. Spade wasn't conscious long enough for even the ghost of a thought to surface relating to flirtation of any kind. So for two days, he slept and watched the world crumble outside of his window. And he couldn't help but feel as if he failed--failed all those people he was being payed to protect. How many people had to die before the fella upstairs was satisfied? Was the Amestrian race planned to be exterminated--to go extinct or some shit?

He had found his rumpled cigarette box on a metal table beside his bed along with his gun. What idiots. It was like they were asking him to kill himself. And with a sloppy smile, Spade ruefully obliged. He had thought about it countless times before, but...what was it that stopped him? Laugh-hacking to himself, he turned the safety off, cocked it, and pulled the trigger half way. Wait. That's right... He didn't want to be the same bastard that Markus and Josef were by leaving behind people that would probably spend their lives feeling as shitty as he did right now. Spade could only think of three people that might notice, ostensibly cry, and possibly suffer an extended amount of time. Apos (the idiot), Alisa (the him in female form), and...and Shula.

The thought of the ishvallan girl made him drop the gun in horror, sickened by the simple fact that he dared hold it to his head. People who hadn't wanted to die were dying. People were out there scrapping by and clinging to life while he was toying with his own. After what, failing? How many fucking times in his life had he failed?! He was still goddamn kicking. One day...his liver would give out or maybe his lungs first. Whichever came first, that would be the day he went. Not now. Not like this. Not when she...needed him here. He could still do his job. And who else was there to round up the leftovers of Central troops to help rebuild what was left of their lives? RIOTE wasn't sitting on their asses playing with thoughts of suicide (oh yes Aurel is!). Spade's sunglasses were gone. He knew this vividly the whole 93489340534.7 times he reached for them with an I.V. infested hand. Oh sweet jesus those wires were what really drove him mad. He blamed his thoughts of death on that incessant beeping sound that made him want to rip his ears off and jump out the open window. Ah, the sweet smell of smoke and burning carcasses of family members.

It really made him want to smoke, but he couldn't reach his lighter.

[Shula Brighton]

Holding onto the IV hanger, Shula leaned back in the chair as she was pushed, not minding Acra using it as support to help himself get around easier. Heh, damn machismo.Even though she was more than capable of pushing herself, she was damn tired and the spot on her ribs that got patched up hurt like a motherfucker still. The little voice in her head that was somewhat concerned with her looks really hoped that the scar would fade well enough that it wouldn't interfere with her costumes when she danced

"So ....the offices are destroyed right? Guess that paperwork won't be needed on Monday..." Much to her own surprise, Shula cracked a small, tired smirk. In the middle of the biggest national crisis in the history of ever, and Acra was joking about the much-dreaded mountains of paperwork. She tilted her head up to look over her shoulder at her best friend, her smile warming and dropping its defenses for just a moment, showing a quick glimpse of all the love it held.

"Yeah, they're gone. You're now free to play solitaire on your computer without getting yelled at." She sighed lightly, loving that he was at least trying to make them both feel better. You really are one of a kind, Acra... Never change. As they rounded the corner, Shula read the patient labels next to each door. Spade was somewhere on this foor, she was told, and not too far from where she and Acra had been. And since he was in charge he managed to get the room to himself. That was both a blessing and a curse. What she really wondered was if since he was so high up they still served him Jello and tried to pass it as a dessert. A soft Aha passed her lips as they found Spade's room. From the hall window he really did have it to himself. And there weren't doctors harping on him. Lucky.

Shula reached her hand out, knocking on the door politely before gripping the handle to push it open for she and Acra slowly. She smiled softly but playfully, though her voice was still breathy and tired. "Well your room's big enough at least, but still can't find one with a coffee pot."

[Theo Chulainn]

Acra sighed as he caught her gaze. His own filled with a sense of tiredness, mourning and in the deepest part of the blue a dark determination. There were rings under his eyes from where he had pushed himself at the text books. "Yeah, they're gone. You're now free to play solitaire on your computer without getting yelled at." Crooking his lips into a smirk he chuckled softly. " Solitare sucks....I rather play Plants vs Zombies." He confessed grinning to her. " No telling the boss now."

He gently pushed her into Spade's room looking round. Whistling slightly. " Nice room boss....If you die can i have it?" The cheeky tease may of been one of bad taste but he was sure they would over look it and find it funny. "Well your room's big enough at least, but still can't find one with a coffee pot." frowning causing his nose to wrinkle in a look of disgust. "Screw that! No coffee pot what kind of a joke is that!!" He nosed around a little as they pushed closer to the bed. " You look like shit...."

[Spade Aeries]

The sound of knocking shocked him from his glorious thoughts of ending his own life. "Nice room boss....If you die can i have it?" Oh magnificent irony, why must you torment me so? Spade's eyes flitted to the gun on the floor nervously and then scanned the contents of the wheelchair. Two mounds of talking flesh with thoughts, emotions, and a strange need for coffee. "Yo Acra. Thought you died. Should have stayed in the grave buddy; work starts in a week." He waited for the groan to accompany his joke and continued. "Coffee has caffeine and caffeine is bad for you, children. They should have beer instead. Actually, call a nurse and I'll get us whatever. I'm actually kind of hungry. How are you guys? You seem alive. Not dying on me right?" Spade suddenly realized he was talking a lot and then clamped his mouth shut. What? He had just nearly kill himself! If he had...they would have walked in and saw him like that. Thank whatever god was up there that he hadn't.

He could barely hide his nervousness... It was hard not to sweat since he couldn't really control that... And he just all-around felt like shit anyway. "You look like shit...." Great. Spade sightly and sent a steely green-eyed stare at Acra. "What do you expect?" He wasn't some god. He couldn't just perform miracles and survive hell unscathed. He was just a human...that happened to possess near-perfect IQ and mind-numbing alchemy. That's all. Heh. Heh... He was barely convincing himself. Goddammit!

His attention snapped to Shula who looked like she could barely breathe let alone talk. It reawakened Spade's urge to jump out the open window currently expelling fumes of death and destruction into the pristine room. He sighed again and cringed outwardly in reaction to the pullings of his stitches. "Shu, how you holdin' up?" He was suspicious--he was so damn suspicious. There were holes in the South City story. His scrutinizing eyes narrowed. And then he smiled. "You look like shit," Spade laughed.

[Shula Brighton]

My.... Spade was... chatty. Really chatty. And sweating lightly. Did they hop him up on speed along with everything else dripping into his arm? Damn, she wanted some of whatever he was on. She was exhausted, and even with the oxygen she was just so tired that sitting still took vast amounts of effort to stay awake. Maybe getting out of the bed to go visiting was a bad idea... Nope. Nope, she needed to connect to the living and see people more than she needed rest. It was like beds were out to get her and make her sleep foreve, like an Ishvallan Snow White. Except that her white hair was dyed blonde. And there was now snow in Ishval. Or Meissan, Resembool or South City. In fact she'd never seen snow. So maybe not a Snow White... But still just damn tired!

She turned her head up to look at Acra's expression at the thought of having to go back to work in a few days and giggled warmly for a moment before coughing softly. That was Spade. Or at least the one he wore on the surface like his sunglasses. She remembered being told when she was younger how everyone wore a mask; sometimes it was very thin, or they didn't know about it, and others hid deep under it. At the time she didn't understand, but as she grew it made more sensel she herself had learned to put one up in order to get through the day and trials and tribulations that life kept bringing her way. Everyone did. Spade wasn't as goofy as he pretended to be; the man she saw in the infirmary tent confirmed that. Just like how Acra's family had certain things that had to be maintained, yet Acra stayed in the Military and worked toward things that he couldn't or wouldn't talk openly about.

But Acra was right. Spade did look like shit. Lots of IV bags hanging and dripping into him, bandages, the smell of chemical dysinfectant filling the room... Shula smiled softly as Acra pushed her near the bed, looking her boss up and down and trying not to look how she felt, even though she knew all three of them were tired and hurting physically and psychologically. "Shu, how you holdin' up? You look like shit." Shula smirked tiredly, shifting to lean more on her less tender side.

"Skipping through daisies, Boss." She laughed a little and winced. Bad move, ow. "You know how it goes... Three hundred nurses and none of them will find me a damn stick of eyeliner. But I'm okay." Shula smiled a bit more, trying to be reassurring. She was safe in the hospital and would be fine once her ribs and tissue healed a bit more.

[Theo Chulainn]

Acra smiled to his boss. "Don't worry Sir. Soon as were out of here you and me are going for the best fucking beer of our lives." Knowing for a fact that would cheer Spade up a little. " And it'll be on Shu here" He teased ruffling the shorter alchemist’s hair. He didn't mean the second part but god a little joke here and there never hurt anyone. He pulled a face at the warning of work in a week but then slipped into a neutral face over it. Anything was better then rotting in the hospital bed. It was driving him stir crazy.

For the moment he stood there watching the other two talk between them. Moving his hands so he was propped on Shula's chair by his wrists. "Of course they don't have any Shu. The nurses here are ugly as sin....mine has a freaking mustache." He sighed softly. Even worse then being stuck in bed is being there and having Sherk want to give you a sponge bath.

[Spade Aeries]

"Skipping through daisies, Boss." Skipping through whaa? Couldn't she have picked a better flower like roses? Oh wait... thorns, right. Then cattleyas would be better--they suited her more. Goddammit Aeries get your head straight! It was kinda hard with the fucking beeping!! "Don't worry Sir. Soon as were out of here you and me are going for the best fucking beer of our lives." That was better. Much better. He let a coy smile caress his entire face and threw a thumbs up sign at the man. "Hell fucking yes, my friend. And never make a lady pay. That's your first mistake." He grinned. "I'll pay. The dough is rolling in from The South. We're still getting paid even though everything has gone to shit. But...I don't know how Amestris is going to afford hiring alchemists to rebuild it all... Maybe it's for the best though..." WHAT WAS HE SAYING!? "We can start over." What a bunch of bullshit you're spoutin', Aeries. You know how fucking hard it is to start from scratch! Internal battle ftw. He massaged his temples and looked up with dull green eyes. "Or you know...wander the streets, starve to death, flee to Xing... or all of the above. We'll see."

He turned to Acra and gave him a retard smile. "At least you have a nurse. I feel like I haven't eaten in six months. Damn rumors. I haven't even flirted with one yet...ONE!"

[Guest]

"Thank you, Mr. Rajan. It's good to see that you've recovered so quickly, but please refrain from stressing the wound further. It will do you no good to do so." He sighed softly, being restrained by one of the nurses, willingly, of course. If he hadn't been willing, then he wouldn't have let them restrain him, but he knew that they were right. Despite the fact that he wanted to train up his body to resist the pain of the wound, he understood that they actually cared, so he would respect their wishes. The blonde, ripped man started to walk away from the area that he'd been training in, and followed the nurse back to his room.

His eyes moved from left to right, studying some of the people that lined the halls. This was a military hospital, so there were mostly soldiers here. Some were groaning in pain, while others were trying to resist the advances of the doctors and nurses. He sighed softly, looking with a pair of sorrowful eyes at the rest of the soldiers. He reached a muscular arm out to his side, reaching for one of the wounded with his hand, opening up his fingers to try and take their outstretched hand. He was in one of the busier parts of the hospital, and so he couldn't help but feel sickened. He closed his eyes and pulled his hand back, hearing a moan come from the soldier, who fell over onto his side.

At that point, everything stopped, and all of the sounds dissipated. Apos turned back to the soldier who had slumped, and opened his eyes to watch him. A pair of nurses instantly rushed to his side, crouching down beside him and attempting to wake him up. Apos could already see it - the man was dead. That sound that had caused him to turn around, just before the slump. It was the man's last breath. That was the sound. And Apos felt the tears brim around his eyes. Death was around him, so why had that one affected him so much? He gritted his teeth and turned away, looking back straight forwards with a new look in his eyes. He was now determined. His voice dropped slightly, and he looked directly at the nurse who was leading him.

"I need to say my final goodbyes... Ma'am. Can you take me to Spade Aeries' room?" The woman's eyes opened slightly, and she nodded, turning a corner and taking him down the hallway. He'd been so busy working out how to properly say this without sobbing in any form. He was normally stoic, strong. But right now, he was a mess. Everything was wrong about Apos Rajan today. Everything was wrong. And he couldn't keep up the illusion of toughness anymore. The nurse lead him into the room, just as he heard a voice coming from within.

"...mn rumors. I haven't even flirted with one yet...ONE!" He stepped out from beside the nurse, and smiled softly, without his usual confidence and valor. There was something obviously off about everyone.

"Shula. Acra. Spade." His voice was rough and tired, yet tinged with sadness. He knew... he knew that this might be the last time he saw them. He knew that there was the possibility that he wouldn't return. But he felt the need to do this. Because, honestly? He didn't know enough, not by a long-shot. So if he did this, then he might have enough information to help everyone that he could. Maybe shit like Spade getting shot, or Shula getting left behind, might not happen if he was intelligent and mature enough. He sighed softly, rubbing his still-bloodstained left arm with his right hand, eyes down and to the side.

[Shula Brighton]

The money would be pouring in from South. Yeah, that was the hope, at least, though with the massive destruction she figured it would just end up being Amestis' largest man-made lake since all the revenue coming into the country should go to repairing what was lost, hiring alchemists to help fix it, and keep the country from falling into pure anarchy. Damn she was too practical, even half-drugged. Shula nodded tiredly, a small yet somewhat empty smile crossing her lips. "We'll be okay, Boss. We still have plent of export partners. We'll pull through." And if not, she really didn't want to think about it or worry about it. Right now the beer Acra was describing sounded absofuckinglutely amazing. Even the piss-beer would do right now, she wasn't picky!

"At least you have a nurse. I feel like I haven't eaten in six months. Damn rumors. I haven't even flirted with one yet...ONE!" Shula smirked playfully. "Aw, that's too bad, Boss... My nurse? Ah, she's gorgeous~" Her smirk became more teasing, adding a a small lilt to her voice. "She looks like she should be playing the role of Bambi the Sex Nymph. Super tall, butt that women kill for, blonde... HUge knockers, too." Shula didn't have a bi-sexual bone in her body, and most of the time was fairly certain she just hadn't even been programmed for sex at all, like they skipped her in the factory. Being raised so traditionally and having the fear of Ishvalla, her mother and her brother all raining down on her if she so much as looked at a boy in any way that might hint to flirting had ensured years of keeping everything well under control. But she wasn't dead, and she certainly wasn't dumb and knew what types both of her best friends chased after. True, her nurse may not have been quite as much of a goddess as she was implying, but they didn't need to know that. And she was much better than the male nurse that kept coming in to check one of the other soldiers; hideous man named Mike that she was certain was found under a bridge somewhere in Amestris' mountains and ate children while they slept. At least she was being somewhat kind and not killing any happy thoughts with that mood-killer.

"Shula. Acra. Spade." That voice! Shula smiled a little more, turning her head as she could to look at him; she hadn't heard him come in, and boy he sounded dismal. She reached out her hand that hadn't had IVs in it before to Apos to give his wrist a gentle squeeze. "Apos! Glad to see you... Thank you." It wasn't articulate, but it was certainly sincerely meant, and Shula knew if Apos hadn't come back for them then it was likely Acra wouldn't be taking to either of them.

[Theo Chulainn]

Acra raised his eyebrow at Shula. This was unusual to hear come out of her mouth. The girl who blushed as red as a cherry when he first hugged her. " Spade how hard did she hit her head?" He asked teasing the smaller in the wheel chair. He then sighed. " Any way, she's not my type...anymore...."

Looking up as Apos walked in he gave a small wave. "Yo...Glad to see you made it out ok aswell." He offered his hand out to shake, cautious not to pull the Iv drip out. That would of been messy. Leaving the conversation to the others for the moment he let his eyes study the window. The road was a mess of rubble and pure chaos. There wondrous central city ruined beyond repair. Sure they could use alchemy to fix the roads and buildings. But it would forever be scarred. The safe haven of many had be failed by the military meant to protect it. He wondered how long it would take before rioters hit the streets and looted shops for what ever little was left.

[Spade Aeries]

Spade frowned. "I think I may have rubbed off on her too much. My bad, Acra. Forgive me?" He grinned sheepishly and massaged his temples to attempt to dash out the on-coming headache of doom. Then he caught movement out of the corner of his eye and spotted a male nurse that was definitely gay and definitely a tranny. Spade shrugged away the shiver that ran down his spine. Next thing he knew, Apos was there standing before them with a scratchy voice and a pathetic look.

"Why are you still here?" Spade asked completely innocently. However, he was inwardly pissed off. You don't say your goodbyes and then show up afterward with a sorry look on your face like you were the one who did this shit. That just ain't right. Spade felt thoroughly awkward. Shula and Acra were exchanging their gladings, but Spade just wanted to punch him in the face. He suddenly didn't want company and wanted to throw the covers over his head and not be there. "Nice nurse man there, Apos," he lowered his voice.

[Guest]

"Apos! Glad to see you... Thank you." He let a small breath leave his throat, masking a saddened grunt. He looked over to the side and sighed softly, before looking back at Shula and giving her a weak smile.

"N-no problem, Shulz." He nodded at the woman, letting the touch on his hand linger before she moved away, giving her a saddened smirk. He was lacking his usual confidence, seeing this woman before him; in some sort of pain, yet okay. He nodded at her, and then turned to the next voice source, giving a small smile towards the larger man, Acra Schiwatas.

"Yo...Glad to see you made it out ok aswell." He nodded and accepted the handshake, giving a weak smirk and looking up at the man carefully. He'd only gotten out of this with a shot in his arm; everyone else was so much worse off... Why... why was he thinking about leaving NOW?! That was stupid of him, wasn't it? He laughed softly, and shook his head, before turning to the man who really mattered to him right now.

"Why are you still here?" That hit him like a shot to the heart. He actually felt himself stumble slightly, looking truly hurt by that. He shook his head and looked to the side with a pair of narrowed eyes.

"That's some thanks to the man who carried you here." Then again... He sighed softly. He had told Spade that he was leaving, when they got back. But... was that the right choice? He turned back to Spade and looked at him over the cover that went over his head. He chuckled lightly and held up his arm.

"Needed a fix. And I couldn't leave. Not while you guys were like this. I'd never be able to live with myself, y'know? And besides. It ain't a leavin' party until we drink up a storm, right?" He laughed softly, and grinned at the man under the covers.

"Nice nurse man there, Apos," He looked back at the nurse and chuckled lightly, kneeling down right by the covers and grinning at the man.

"He's been holding his hand over my ass the whole way. Pity I can't punch out a nurse. And to add... I won't leave you yet, man. Not until I help you guys get back on your feet, at least. There's too much shit to just up and leave y'all." He nodded, waiting for the all-important punch to the face.

[Shula Brighton]

Tilting her head around slightly, Shula paused to take a look at Acra while he said hello to Apos. Tall, leggy, blond Boobzilla wasn't his type? Since when?She blushed faintly realizing her teasing comment throw her cohorts off more than anused them, both loving and hating how strong the pain meds were. How hard did I hit my head? I just described your last six girlfriends and the kind of women that you typically chat up at the pubs... Unless... Was it possible her best friend was finally taking her advice and staying away from the too-pretty type that only wanted to date him for his good looks and bottomless pockets? Shula smiled a little at the thought of that being a possibility, thought it did make her immediately wonder what his new type was, then.

Shula turned her attention back to Apos as he moved toward Spade, wincing slightly as she shifted again in her seat to lean more on the side that didn't hurt. Thin brown fingers moved up to behind her shoulder to brush against Acra's hand lightly. "Why are you still here?" The feeling in the room suddenly became heavy with an awkward tension. Spade seemed surprised Apos was still there... Well, why wouldn't he be? His arm had been bleeding when he'd toted them both off to transport to get here, and the city was destroyed. Where was he supposed to go, the nearest Marktkauf store?

She shook her head lightly to herself, knowing she was missing part of the picture here. Apos was one of Spade's best friends, and he was the reason she and Spade hadn't both bled to death yesterday. As far as she could figure they should have been happier to see each other... Did they have a fight or something? "Needed a fix. And I couldn't leave. Not while you guys were like this. I'd never be able to live with myself, y'know? And besides. It ain't a leavin' party until we drink up a storm, right?" Oh. Ohh.... Leaving? She didn't think Apos would seem this abismal over being discharged from the hospita, but she wasn't about to ask. She'd learned by now that playing 20 Questions with Spade and his friends never resulted in you winning. "I should with all the damn drugs they're feeding me right now, but I would not say no to brandy at this point."

"There's too much shit to just up and leave y'all." With a soft, tired smile, Shula leaned back a little more, snuggling into her chair slightly as her blinks became slower. "You're a good man, Apos." Her voice was faint and almost breathy, and was more hoenst about how tired she was than she'd admit to; she wasn't even certain Apos would have head her. But that hardly mattered at the moment since she was only stating a fact from her perspective. Her fingers gave another gentle, tired squeeze to Acra's as she looked on through half-lidded eyes.

[Theo Chulainn]

Acra watched the back and forth banter almost as if watching tennis. Back and forth back and forth. It was kinder amusing to him. It was enough to give his side a dull ache. Then again the healing bullet wound might be the culprit.

Shula squeezed his hand causing him to give a pain filled yelp hitting a pitch he rarely would. His hand where extremely tender and clearly his morphine had worn off as the stabbing pain raced up his arms. Taking his hands off the wheelchair handles he shook them slightly to shake off the sting.

Giving a weak chuckle he looked down at the half asleep Shu and turned to the men. “I’m going to take her back to bed…before Alaric comes hunting me down for letting her push herself.” nodding slightly he took a hold of the handles giving a soft hiss between his gritted teeth. Pushing through the pain he started to roll Shula towards the door. He forced himself through the pain. He had to gain those precious masculinity points he had just lost from his rather girlish screech after all.

[Spade Aeries]

Spade lit up a cig, ignored Apos, and went to sleep before he lost his mind from lack of painkillers. "Just don't leave yet, buddy."

[EXIT THREAD] XD

[Guest]

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