[ something isn't . . . quite right, and roy looks him over quickly (scanning for blood, seeking injury), but when his eyes land on the flower in his hand, his brow furrows. part of him wants to text riza, immediately, but doing so would just make her worry. better to figure out what's going on first before alerting her of anything.

so roy approaches, still -- slow, and wary, before he gets close enough to stoop next to maes, resting his elbows on his knees as he watches, carefully. it's hard to ignore the swell of raw emotion in his chest, but he's been through this once before, in a much . . . less calm manner.

better to find hughes calm than hughes half-dead. ]

Yeah. [ finally, after a long silence, and roy inhales deeply before letting out the breath slowly, expelling some of the urge to immediately check for injury with it. freaking out will do nothing, roy. you're an adult. ] It's no better or worse than anywhere else in this fanciful prison.

[ what a fun-ruiner. he pauses before reaching out to grasp hughes' shoulder -- gripping it a little too tightly, to convince himself that it's real, and roy shakes it a little, still frowning. ]

When did you get here, and are you alright?