Lt. Col. Maes Hughes (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dadandgone) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
bearwithme2019-03-14 09:46 pm
dadandgone) wrote in bearwithme2019-03-14 09:46 pm
Entry tags:
Bringing the Boys to Dinner
Who: Maes, Keith & Shiro
Where: Maes's Home; Central, Amestris
When: ???
Rating PG?
What: In another time, in another place this is what could have been. Is it another reality? Is it a dream? We don't know nor do we care. We just wanted something sweet and precious in contrast to in game horrors.
Maes is home and he's bringing guests to dinner.
[It doesn't matter how they got to this point, because like most dreams that isn't the most important part. For the purposes of this particular dream or alternate reality all you need to worry about is that apparently the Circle members have been granted a type of 'leave' to visit places important to them and that certain events in Maes's life (or lack there of) have simply not occurred. It's a dream or something, so let's just let them be happy for once.
It is a sunny, warm day in Central City. The vehicles and fashions are perhaps a little old fashioned to Shiro and Keith, but Maes is right at home. No more robotic, apocalyptic waste lands or undersea kingdoms. He's home and he's excited to give two of his closest friends from the Circle a rare treat in their travels: a nice home cooked meal. More importantly, he'll finally get to show off both his beautiful wife and precious baby daughter, something he had looked forward to doing for some time now.
While he knew Gracia never minded when he brought home guests on a whim, something he was prone to do quite often, he had stopped inside a florist on the way in order to pick her up a bouquet and use their phone to call ahead. Once that was taken care of, he rejoined Shiro and Keith, a simple, yet colorful floral array tucked under his arm.]
It's not much further now. She's really looking forward to meeting you both.
no subject
He goes on quite a bit about us from what I hear. I hope he didn't go overboard again. But if you're here that means he didn't completely drive you insane with his talk.
[She bobs her head and turns to go back to the kitchen. She did say she had to get one more thing. Maes almost stops her to go help, but he imagines it might be awkward for his guests so he stays put. He knows whatever it is Gracia can handle it. Maes takes a seat, gesturing for Shiro and Keith to sit as well, though there's a sheepish smile there after Gracia's teasing.
Gracia returns a moment later with freshly baked rolls and a dish with butter.
She sets these down and then takes a seat herself. Maes takes up a plate and talks as he serves.]
Don't let the spread fool you, we keep things pretty informal here.
[Gracia nods encouragingly, picking up a smaller plate to make for Elysia. There's the roast and bread of course, but the table is also loaded down with your traditional sides of mashed potatoes and gravy, peas, and glazed carrots.]
Put as much on your plate as you like...although I should probably give you a heads up that there's an apple pie for dessert. It's Maes's favorite.
[Maes suspiciously stops filling his plate with as much food. But the clatter continues as he helps make Gracia's plate since she is taking care of Elysia. When things begin to settle Gracia picks back up on the conversation as she had left it.]
Thank you for taking care of my husband. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for knowing as much about you both. I know you can't say a lot about how you met...but please tell me about yourselves.
[She knows they can't tell her a lot. Maes had been rather vague about things, but surely they could say more than their names. This was what Maes loved about his wife though, she was supportive without having to know all the details, but he knew if he told her she would be just as willing to listen and help in anyway that she could.
Honestly he did believe that between the two of them she was the strongest.]
no subject
[Keith agrees. Sitting. He can do that. Really, he's almost mystified by all of this, this happy domestic scene. At the furthest reaches of his memory, he does have warm and happy memories of dinners with his dad -- around a table or around a campfire -- but those are distant and far away. The family dynamic is strange to him, strange and kind of wonderful really.
It probably shows on his face, too. Keith has never been good at hiding his emotions, wears his heart on his sleeve at the best of times. And this is a pretty good time, isn't it? He settles into his chair, beside wherever Shiro has chosen to sit, and watches.]
Not completely insane. [Keith agrees, with as serious an expression as he can manage before a faint smile surfaces.] It's been nice to hear.
[Food is distracting, however, and he will see about making a plate for himself. It all looks delicious. Home cooked meals are real, despite Hunk doing his level best with the options put before them.]
Maes has been a good friend. [He glances over to Shiro, unsure how to go about explaining who they are.] We've been traveling together for a while now. Shiro and I know each other from a long time before that though.
[The affection that creeps into his voice when he says that last part is probably more obvious than he intends it to be.]
no subject
Gracia is right that they can't say much. But there's something he can say to paint a clearer picture. At least as clear of one as he can manage. He makes sure there's not too much on his plate. He hasn't had apple pie in over two years. Tell her about themselves...] Keith and I met when I was doing recruitment for the Garrison. People like me serve as explorers of the unknown. We need people capable of enduring that kind of existence. They need to be skilled and have a will to match it.
It's difficult. At best we get two to three recruits who make it all the way through. [They'd made a game out of it to really test those skills. He butters his bread to hide a small smile that's trying hard not to morph into a grin of pride.] Keith made the test look like it was nothing.
[There's no helping it now. A grin spreads across his face and lights up his eyes. Thinking of Keith at the controls of an aircraft doing what he does best never fails to bring it out.] ...and after all this time he still makes it look easy.
no subject
[Gracia laughs softly. If it's one thing she wishes she could see more of around here it was pleasant dinner conversations like this. She enjoys hearing what little of the story she can, especially in regards to these two new friends of her husband.
It's hard not to miss that smile from Shiro and the light in Keith's eyes. Maes isn't the only observant one around here, especially when it comes to relationships.]
I'm glad. It's nice that you can work with someone you care so much about. From what Maes has told me, you're both quite capable.
[As best she can tell, both from what Maes has and hasn't said, he'd been off on a special assignment. A complicated one at that. It must have been far away or perhaps some sort of joint operation with another country for him to have met these two. He'd indicated something to that effect at least, that both Shiro and Keith were from 'far away.']
They've certainly kept me on my toes.
no subject
[It's cute, Maes. And sweet. Seeing how much Maes cares about his family is honestly great. And the way Gracia and Elysia and Maes interact, it's unmistakable how close they are.
But what Shiro has said has Keith fighting a blush. what the heck, Shiro?]
What Shiro is leaving out is that he was out recruiting because he was the Garrison's golden boy -- broke all sorts of records like it was easy.
[Take that Shiro.]
no subject
And Maes has been pretty instrumental into why we've made it this far with our mission.
[He gives said man a softer smile, one of his rarer just Shiro expressions.] But trust me, you didn't drive me crazy with the photos and the talk. It's important sometimes to remind yourself and everyone around you that there's a world out there.
[Or 'worlds' as the case may be. He thinks he's given it long enough that the 'golden boy' bit Keith has just almost gotten his blush under control. He takes a bite of his bread and savors it. Almost.
He looks at him out of the corner of his eye.]
I was just very dedicated and wanted to make the cut. [Bullshit. He was a natural from the start and they both know it.]
You were showing third-year cadet skills without even breaking a sweat. All because I gave you the chance to do it. I knew you had to come with me. It would be a crime to let that talent go to waste.
[Shiro takes another bite of his bread then a bit of the roast on his plate as if he hadn't just dished that bit of a compliment out. He beams at Gracia.] This is wonderful! Thanks again for having us over.