[ retro to major injury! ]

Roy unfortunately wasn't around when Joel came crashing into the starpool- and if he had been, he would have believed the male was quite lucky to survive as well. Roy had seen Joel limping around after the crash, Roy assumed that Joel was a new member, but the Flame Alchemist never took the opportunity to approach the guy. Roy wasn't all that open and friendly to new members; if he were to approach a new member to get to know them, that would certainly be a rare sight. Perhaps tonight would be one of those rare sights, as much like Joel, tonight was another sleepless night.

Roy was honestly getting quite tired of these nights, he missed the nights when he was able to fall asleep quickly and wake easily. But recently with Maes death, Roy hasn't slept a full night. At some point of the night Roy would get nightmares, whether it be of Hughes mutilated corpse, or that abomination. Sometimes Roy would see either of those as soon as he closed his eyes; and tonight was one of those nights. Roy wanted to clear his head, he hoped padding around at night would get his mind distracted by the time he went back to his room, when his body is demanding sleep. Roy was almost, but not entirely, in the same boat as Joel. Just like Joel, Roy got involved in an accident. It was a horrible, horrible accident- it cost him his life, and most likely Riza Hawkeye's as well. At first Roy didn't remember what entirely happened when he arrived here, but when Hughes arrived and asked if Roy was dead back in Amestris, it triggered a descriptive flashback. Roy remembers all of it now, he understands why he's forced to continue his life as a bobcat, unable to return home, despite how badly he wishes to be.

No one has heard Roy call this place a living hell out loud, but Roy was certainly thinking it in his mind. He was alone- Maes is gone, he has no idea where Riza ran off to. The only reason why he's okay now is that Ascendants members have been supporting him through his loss of Maes. It surprised him, Roy wasn't particularly close to any of them- and that didn't stop them from checking in on him. And because of this, Roy feels closer to certain clanmates, and that he has a shoulder he can lean on if needed. If these certain people didn't go to him, who knows if Roy would be okay now.

As he padded along, the melanistic bobcat came across the long grassy field. He stopped in his tracks as he watched as lightning bugs weaved in and out of the field, watching them light up the night sky. As he looked over at the field, Roy noticed an outline of a wolf, illuminated by the lightning bugs. As he looked closer, he noticed the wolf holding his paw out, allowing an individual lightning bug to land on it's paw. Roy wasn't entirely sure who this was, but his paws were moving anyways. The bobcat found himself approaching the individual, and when he got closer, he recognized it to be Joel. And he noticed the sad expression etched on his face.

"So tell me, what's your story?" The Flame Alchemist decided to speak up suddenly, ears drawing back to his skull as he wondered what happened to Joel to put him into this state. Maybe if Joel tells Roy his story, Roy will tell his back in return. Sounds like equivalent exchange if you ask Roy.