Piano Bar Shuffle

[Guest]

Earlier that week

The train shook and rattled as it sped rapidly over the tracks, creating a rocking travel lullaby that Aishe was all too familiar with. Finally, she was on her way back home to East, and then heading to Central right after that. Ever since the bombing incident last year, the young Ishvallan girl had hardly spent more than a week at any given place. She felt uprooted, but it was a nice feeling. A free spirit in the end, Aishe had always wanted to travel about. Maybe she was just a gypsy at heart? Already she had been in almost every place worth going in Amestris. I wouldn't be long before she found herself in foreign countries. What was Carraig like this time of year? She just had to find out. Place to go, people to meet, things to do. Was this a carefree pursuit of happiness or a reckless abandonment of responsibilities? Her thoughts often drifted back home to her adoptive family in Ishval. Ever since her foster brother died, things had been hard on them, and it only got worse after the bombing. Originally housed up in East City, the family moved to a small town in the Ishval region soon after East was hit by RIOTE's nationwide terrorist bombing. They seemed happy enough away from crowded ghettos and stressful city life, but they were farm from any real financial security. They needed money, and more than they could get from running that tiny farm and selling what little they could grow. But to just help them on the farm wasn't good enough. It wouldn't change a thing. No, Aishe had much bigger plans in mind. Plans that saw to her travelling about the country, making contacts, gathering resources and references. But that was another problem for another day. For now, Aishe slipped a sleek silver cellphone from her jean pocket and dialed her brother's number.


"Hey, Akhi*, long time no speak! How've you been? I've been fine. My trip to Ishval went well. Hot as hell though. I don't think I'll be going back 'til winter. Haha. Anyway, I was going to swing by Central and I thought I'd drop by and check up on you and Shu. We could head to a bar and grab a belt. I'll let you pick the place, but try and pick a joint with some nice tunes, 'kay? I haven't been to a bar with a classy act since my favourite one in East caught on fire. It'd be great to spend sometime together again. Hope you aren't too busy. Call me back before I have to split to West City in a week. Catch ya soon!"

((Ahki in arabic means "My brother". It sounds alot like Aki so I thought it would be funny to use it))

[Spade Aeries]

The word 'busy' hardly summed up Spade's schedule. With barely a moment's break, the brunette had been running around like a chicken with its head cut off. He was up to his neck in debt, trying his best to make due with what he had and get the country back on its feet. Of course, it wasn't enough; it never was enough. A heart-bent sigh fell out of his lips, iPhone blindly buzzing in his right pant's pocket. He made no movement to grab it, his listless eyes staring off into the smoke-filled space as he took another inhalation of a Lucky Seven cig. The world was a wonderful place right now--this moment--this moment was just a breath of fresh air. Well, not fresh, but it was enough to keep him sane. Too much war. Too many dead. Too many he just couldn't save. Sometimes he wondered...was there anyone he could save? Wasn't he just killing people himself? Who lived each time he pulled the trigger? He extorted a faint moan and flopped over heavily onto his leather man couch. Already faded with wear, it was nearly as manly as his own leather man couch. This one being brown, it suited him better anyway.

Emerald eyes fell closed, his mind imaging the amusing answering machine he had set up for any unfortunate soul that dared leave a message. 'Lieutenant General Spade Aeries here. What's up? ..........' Followed by a great pause, his voice soon spiked up again with a hearty laugh. 'Ahahah GOTCHA! Leave a message after the beep.' God, he was an ass, but he loved the reactions on his voicemails. DAMN YOU AERIES, they'd say with a smile in their voice. Ah, it was worth it in the end. Even if it was Shu, he didn't feel like answering his phone right now. Even if it was Hans. Even if RIOTE came back and they were losing again. Another retreat, another voicemail; Spade didn't care right now. He sucked in the rest of his cancer stick and sat up, stubbing it out before it burned his fingers again. Just in case...maybe it was better to listen to who it was. Hell, it could even been his long lost half-sister that had been traveling around Amestris while various enemies invaded and threatened their freedom. Hey, whatever man--whatever floated her boat was cool. Spade was just sick of sinking.

"You have one new message. Caller ID Aishe. Called at 1:42 PM. The following is her message:"

"Hey, Akhi, long time no speak! How've you been? I've been fine. My trip to Ishval went well. Hot as hell though. I don't think I'll be going back 'til winter. Haha. Anyway, I was going to swing by Central and I thought I'd drop by and check up on you and Shu. We could head to a bar and grab a belt. I'll let you pick the place, but try and pick a joint with some nice tunes, 'kay? I haven't been to a bar with a classy act since my favourite one in East caught on fire. It'd be great to spend sometime together again. Hope you aren't too busy. Call me back before I have to split to West City in a week. Catch ya soon!"

...

The fuck was a belt? They sold belts at bars? Spade pinched the bridge of his nose and stared absently at the digital clock. Ugh, he'd been sitting here staring at the ceiling for ten minutes? Again? He drew himself to his feet and stared into the kitchen as if it would burst into life and fix him a sandwich. Not even in his dreams. Man, life sucked. "Fuck it," he murmured and redialed his half-sister's number. What was there to lose? Maybe King Gavin would lend Amestris some dough.

[Guest]

The horns blared and the drums erupted into complicated rhythms and beats as the lively jazz piece erupted from the half Ishvallan's phone.
"Hmm?" muttered Aishe as she glanced at the phone still in her hand as it vibrated and blared its ringtone brazenly. A quick glance at the caller I.D. confirmed it to be her brother.
"Well that was quick" chirped the girl cheerfully. She figured he would have taken hours to get back to her, what with being the busy head of Central HQ after all.

"Yo, brother. Nice to see you aren't sleeping in. So yeah, I'm gonna be in Central really soon. Whaddya think? Want to go to a bar? Lets got to a classy place, not a pub. A place with music would be cool. How's that sound for ya? You could even bring Shu"
Every word Aishe uttered was playful and chipper. Honestly, she was in high spirits. She was at least happy to see her foster family alive and well in Ishval, and now she got to spend some time with her brother and Shu. And if Spade was stressed at all, then this might just be the thing he needs.

[Spade Aeries]

"Yo, brother. Nice to see you aren't sleeping in." He glanced at his watch with a baffled frown, raising his eyes to peer into the soundless space. It was 1:15 the hell he would be allowed to sleep in that late...ever. "So yeah, I'm gonna be in Central really soon. Whaddya think? Want to go to a bar? Lets go to a classy place, not a pub. A place with music would be cool. How's that sound for ya? You could even bring Shu."

"Have you even met Shu?" He grumbled, immediately realizing his mistake. "Sorry. It's fucking hell in a hand basket here you better not come. We're still cleaning up the messes, and well, getting over the blood. I need a drink, but I don't feel like moving. Most of the places here are closed... I'll call her though...see what she thinks. She's not here; she's in South. I'm kind of alone--haha..." Spade wasn't much for nervous laughter, but it was happening, rupturing the typical laid back mood he usually wafted. The truth was, he needed Shu with him or he'd continue staring into the distance like it fucking owned his mind. He couldn't take it all again. Somehow--somehow they still had their capital somewhat intact, but it was no thanks to him. What am I even doing here, Spade couldn't help but think, his hand clutching the phone shaking.

His half sister. Aishe. She had no connection to his father. The last time Spade saw his face was when he was sixteen, cast out. His mother visited once, but that was it. Once, when he first landed his job as a detective. That was it. That was his family. Ace...Ace was... His own brother killed them in a lapse of sanity. That same brother was now leading an entire country. His heart was sinking day by day the longer he dwelled on it. It just wasn't right. This all just felt off. "I'm trying here," he murmured into the reciever, his voice gravel, "but I'm stuck."

[Shula Brighton]

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