Elicia Hughes

[Nami went home. It's another tally on her list of people she dearly misses now—she marks them down and can count them off on her fingers. Mom... dad... Mr. Luffy... Nami left... Archie... J-Jilly.... Pao-Lin and Miss Lightning... Noel and Mr. Ling... Ace.... Lots of people are gone. She's been so afraid of being left alone, but she never considered maybe it wouldn't just stop at her mama and papa. She never considered that she herself were capable of leaving, either.

Maybe—someday... she'll be all alone.

And every time it hurts. It hurts! She counts off the names and it still makes her want to hide in her covers and cry. She's too young to appreciate that they're in their own worlds, where they belong. Lucky for her, not to know some were going to their deaths. Did she even have any pictures of some of them? She's got a few, but—they're not enough. Some people don't have any at all to hang up. It's awful, to sit there and see blank places on your wall where you could have so easily had more images... of loved ones you might not see again.

She spends the next few days collecting up as much as she can from the item shop, whenever Winry or Ed is willing to take her (well, one more willing than the other, all things considered). She has her pink camera, and if she can just get even more film for photos, she can get lots and lots of pictures. This is what her father did, right? He's the reason she has a picture of her and Nami together.

Thank you, papa. Thank you for giving her pictures to remember.

While she's at school, she'll call out to familiar faces, surprisingly eager.]

Let's take a picture together!!

[Out in her front yard, she excuses herself from her play time with her action figures and dolls to usher her friends over, if they visit, if they happen by. There are some she knows who take the trail often; she may or may not be betting on that.]

Can you take a picture with me??

[She's out of breath, just having caught someone she knows in the corner of her eye; what if they vanish in the next few moments, and she never catches them, and she grows up and forgets their faces? She calls out down the road, close to the smithy where Winry works (she likes to visit, sometimes; it's nice to stay there):]

Wait! Can we have a picture? Just one!

[Sometimes she just calls out to two people out on a stroll, friends, clearly friends or relatives or lovers, people who probably love each other like she loved her friends. She smiles and looks hopeful, and holds up her camera that hangs off her neck.]

Do you want a picture of you two??

[Eventually, a click. No flash. No film. She's all out.]

[Video]

( Picture and text underneath! )

[The feed is just of her laying on her bed sideways, holding her camera close to her. With all her thoughts circling her head, she's been trading out the camera for her stuffed plushies when bed time comes around. She turns on video, because it's also a good way to see people sometimes. Even if it gets harder and harder to find their... pages... She can't find some of her papa's old pages. She was sure she could remember where they were.

Her lips are pursed, and her camera is held against her heart.]

People go away... How do you make it stop hurting? ... I wish my memories were so good, I could remember like a movie. I wanna remember every little thing, but it's hard to remember so many little things... [Her eyes well up with tears. They drip into the small crease between her eye and nose, pools there as her voice goes low.] I don't wanna grow up and forget.

I don't wanna forget. What should I do?

[.....]

.... I need more film... for pictures.

Stop following me!!

[The audio picks up a huffy Elicia at the school, and she clicks on the video to reveal she's donning a mobster suit of some kind—against her own will, of course. Behind her are four men, all rough looking with their own suits. But they hardly seem a threat to her, and moreso the people walking by. They throw surly glances at them, hollering for them to move along. If you're unfortunate enough, you're one of the people walking by. Observe, a kid standing in the center of a line-up.

'Don't bother our boss—can't y'see she's busy?!'

'Boss, there anything we can get for ya'?'

'Y'got someone you need knocked off, Elicia, ma'am??'

'Knock it off, ya lug, she'll tell you if she needs something. Apologies for my, eeeeh. Associate.'

Elicia furrows her brow at the camera, not paying them a lot of heed at the moment.]

Winryyy, Edddd, they keep calling me boss and they won't stop following me!

['Hey! I think that guy looked at us funny. Don't look at us, just keep walkin' pal.'

'D'you know who we are??']

Things are really weird around here... This suit is itchy...

[Maybe you missed her school day mobster jambooree. No worries—she's back home in an ice age, building herself a snow forte. Or at least trying to. Of course, she looks more like a penguin when she moves thanks to an overabundance of jackets, scarfs, gloves, and beenies. WHAT IF SHE FROZE, OKAY? SAFETY FIRST.

At any rate, this forte sucks. She's really defeated by the way it just... caves in pathetically.

Sheesh. Maybe she should get forte building lessons.

... Also, her four mobsters are sitting at the porch with their arms crossed, looking determined. None of youse better do anyting fishy. Jus' sayin'. Heck, she's kinda' starting to like their company. MAYBE I CAN MAKE THEM BUILD STUFF FOR ME...

Welp, we know who'll be following Elicia for the entirety of the event. (Ed, don't do anything to them, they're my minions now).]

[Elicia had been sleeping next to Gracia off and on now, after papa had left. She thinks maybe it makes her mama better, that she's close and there. And like so many other days, Elicia gets up and rubs her face, bleary-eyed and ready to start the day. Only, what greeted her was the silence of a empty, blue room; the essence of it—everything that made it her mother's—was sucked out. All she had was a pillow behind her and a blanket clutched in her hands, and for a moment, she doesn't understand.

It takes some time before she finally does.

The house is really quiet. Winry and Ed must be doing the things they do every day. She numbly leaves the bed and goes into the bathroom, stripping down like always, turning on the water and being careful that she doesn't make it hot. She gets soap in her eyes, but it's okay, because it washes out. When that's over with, the clothes come next—it's a dress, and she puts her ties in her hair, trying to make them match evenly on each side; it sort of looks right, she thinks, so she goes to the kitchen and uses a chair to get to the cabinet so that she could get the cereal box. And then the milk. Spoon and bowl. She doesn't make orange slices because the knives are bad and off limits. And then she sets the table and eats fast.

It's all wrong. But she's had nightmares about a day like this, only soothed when she woke up and looked at her mother, or wandered into her room in the dead of night, just for a look. But now nothing's left in her mama's room, and the fog of loneliness pushes on her from all sides as she sits on the couch and waits for something to change.

Over time, she lets herself cry. It builds up like a wave traveling toward sand, gradually peaking as the force carries it. It's okay, she thinks. She'll come back, or papa. They wouldn't just leave her behind for long. Not even the malnosso could change that about them. Right? They'd come back and there wouldn't be any reason to cry.]

[Voice]

Mama—

[She breathes in, voice watery and unsure. Everyone had to do things like this. This was the right thing to do. This is what people here had to do sometimes, for the ones they loved. She inhales a shaky sob.]

Gracia... Hughes... Went home.

[It's weird to say her full name like that. She doesn't like it. But she has to be grown up right now.

Later in the day, she'll be out working on the garden Raine had helped her replant, and has no intention of going inside until the sun starts dipping low. She doesn't really feel like playing today. A lot of her presents from the birthday are left scattered in her room, where she's left them from the night before Gracia had left.]

DAY 1 - 5

[There is a child in your house. She is stuffing something of yours into a bag. What is it? Something that was obviously worth taking. She's wearing a red cape, wearing a black cloth eyemask, and looking extremely brave and noble as she goes. In fact, she's practically sparkling - though she probably got that from her papa.]

I am Elicia Hood, the queen of thieves, giver to the super poorest! I'm here to take your riches!! Hohooo!

[... How was that for an entrance?

Anyway. If you don't catch her in the act but she takes something - don't worry. She'll give it all back. Eventually. Just don't be alarmed at her mad skillz if you are finding something of yours MIA. She's just such a cool Hood.]

DAY 6 - 10



[Elicia Hughes is all growed up again. 20 years old, straight outta' Luceti's future (or at least, the future she was in). She's pretty surprised that she's stopping by yet again - even more weirded out by the fact that she went back into the future and prompty forgot even being here until just now.

Aw well. Luceti's always been weird.

She'll go ahead and visit everyone, see who's where, who's affected by what. Y'know. To laugh at them. Well, maybe a little more than that. :| She may or may not come in through your window, if she knows you well enough, because surprises are fun.

Other than that, she's really interested in what the hell is going on around here.]

[Voice]

Hey everyone, Elicia here. Y'know, the one that's typically short in your timeline. Howdy. It seems like I dropped in at a pretty crazy time—or, uh, dropped in because it's been a pretty crazy time. Let's do a rolecall, huh? Who here has a weird-ass affliction, and name it!

Mine is growing up. Or traveling from the future. Or being an alternate reality. Something like that. It's kinda hard to tell, y'know?

[Video]

I've grown six whole inches since I got here!

[Hi there everyone, guess how proud this fabulous little princess is? Really fabuluous, that's what. She's noticed you, New Feathers, and that means between scheming and drawing, she must see what you're all up to.]

I'm Elicia, and I'm six years old.. Welcome to Luceti! I had a cool banner for it, but I'm gonna redraw it 'cause I'm a lot better at my letters now! A-and maybe I'll put some glitter on it, too, so it looks even better... [Because everything looks good with glitter. She's in a 'shiny = beautiful' phase, okay?

Wait. Important stuff.]

OH!!


And look, look what I'm learning!!

[She smiles at the camera and runs over to the middle of her rather pink room, where a teeny table with a few random toys are sitting--a small teddy, a train, a few bows and the like--and she's quiet for a moment. Pardon her if she's a little dramatic about it. It's just funner that way, okay? Adults do it sometimes too, anyway.]

Hooooooouuuu--!!

[Suddenly the toys all fly off the table as she does a silly hand motion toward it, and if the viewer listens well enough they can hear the wind from it whip against the book a bit. Regardless, Elicia is shining with joy at the effort once the items are littering the floor.]

Kipinn showed me!! I heard him at school once, and he promised he'd teach me some! I think if I keep trying, I can make a kite fly! D'you think so?? O-or maybe I'll fly paper planes!

...

But I promise not to do it in class.

[Action]

[Speaking of mischief, she's enjoying this newfound power. A few hours later she's practicing her wind abilities out in the front yard; that is, she's hovering pieces of paper and when they're at her level she CHOPS them down dramatically with the little wooden sword Law'd given her.

I AM SUCH A BADASS.

Of course until the paper suddenly flies and smacks her square in the face, and she has to pry it off.]



Kipiiiin! No fair!!

[Also she might accidentally hit you with paper planes. Sorry 'bout it.]

[The bad news... Elicia's brothers were gone. So while the house waited for them to show back up, Elicia did the same. But she was in high enough spirits, at least, with Christmas just around the corner. And when she was finished with her usual occupational things on weekends she cracked open her journal sleepily, laying cross-legged on her stomach, on her made bed.]

[Video]

Did lots of you have Christmas at home? Was it nice?

[She beams with her cheek resting on her arm.]

This is gonna be my second one!! I hope Santa thinks I've been a good girl, 'cause I've been trying extra hard not to be bad, so I'd get good presents! Make sure you're all good, okay? So you can get a lotta' presents, too...! What's the best present you got from him before?

[Aah! She perks up, looking at her window, bright-eyed in an instant.]

It's snowing again! I'm gonna make some snow people! You guys should make some, too!

[Action]

[Elicia'll be outside for the rest of the day, crouched low and rolling snowballs out of the thin veil on the floor. Soon, there are stacked snowballs. And then, eyes on them. And then little stick arms. By the time it's three or four? Behold—dozens and dozens of little snow men surrounding House #23!! They may be the height of a ruler, but their numbers are many! It's like Snow Sparta around here.

Don't be alarmed if some have little weapons fastened to their hands made of sticks. That's just how we roll in Elicialand.]

[Action]

[Life goes on.

And for Elicia, losing quite a few loved ones in such a short time-frame hasn't entirely exhausted her youthful determination. She has a super hero to look out for her papa. And she has Jack's special compass. The last few days she's been outside her school with said magical device, pacing back and forth, watching the small needle turn and turn with no set destination. It's what she's doing today, pacing and watching it never stop. They weren't here. The people see was waiting for, that is. It's what she wanted most, and 'cause they're not here the compass says no.

Well, she'd just try again tomorrow!]

[Video]



[... it's been a long time since she really tried to talk to everyone. She smiles big for the camera.]

Hey! Today I read a really good book; it was called the Swan Princess! I didn't know some of the words, but I knew mooost of them... It must feel really funny to change into animals and stuff. But the worst is getting turned into a frog! 'Cause you'd be all slimy and green and tiny! And you'd have to get a kiss, even though you're a frog...

But I'd kiss a frog! I-if it meant helping someone change back, I'd do it! ... Maybe on the cheek!

Definitely on the cheek!

And if it was a prince maybe he'd give me a cool crown for helping him!

[Siiigh. That sounds so cool.]

I wouldn't kiss a big lion, though, because they like to scratch! Unless they say they're friendly. But I don't know anyone who knows a friendly lion...

[When the video starts up, Elicia seems unfathomably happy. Unfathomably!! Under one protective forearm she has an eerily familiar doll in hand. What, you don't own a Chopper doll? But anyway!! Important things are afoot!]

Guess what, guess what! I had a cool dream! It was the coolest! [in case the first cool didn't sink in] I was jumping all through the sky, and I was jumping through all the trees and I had a really cool sword! But there was this mean kid and he was like 'humans are mean! I don't like you!!'

[STOMPING A FOOT DOWN, GRAH!!]

But then all of a sudden a cool superhero in armor flew in and kicked him in the butt! Pow!

[she runs in a circle before ending with a bad-ass little girl kick to the air. HIYAH!!]

And big sis Nami was there, and she was asking where she put her clothes 'cause she lost them, and uncle Law was there! He told me not to spin my cool sword in circles 'cause that's dangerous, and I didn't wanna get in trouble by papa anyway, and then I was on a boat with Uncle Jack and Mr. Archie, and we were looking for gold! We found a box of treasure so big, it didn't even fit on the boat, so Uncle Jack was pretty grumpy the whole way back.

It was a lot of fun, 'specially when I got to go swimming with the mermaids! They had really long, pretty hair.

[...

Right. :|a

Oh! So anyway. On to other exciting matters!]

Umm, there's new people again, huh? Hi, New Feather people! I'm Elicia, and I've been here for one whole year! Big sis says that's really true! I'm sorry I didn't have any cookies on my stand, but we ran out of eggs and we gotta go to the store. But you're all invited to my nextest birthday, so you can definitely have some cookies there.

[So just wait a whole year. Seems legit.]

Um...! That's all, I think! Maybe I should ask a neat question... [Lots of people seem to do that. It's clearly in-fashion.]

What's your favorite animal?

((ooc: time, where did you go ;;. Replies in the morn! Sorry about that!))

[Elicia was expecting to be in the middle of a scuffle between enemy winged soldiers. Not to be waking up half-drugged and in an old-fashion malnosso dress. She hadn't done this little dance in a few years now... What did that mean? Did they come back? Impossible, they were... Well, we'll figure this out as we go, Elicia. When she gets up, she nearly falls over, and finds with frustration that her automail leg wasn't working properly. Something was wrong with the knee—aaah, Winry would be pretty grumpy about that.

'This would be the second time this week.'

But it's around the time she cracks open her journal that she realizes something's not right. These entries, they're only up to her sixth birthday? No, that can't be right. Where did all her other.... Oh. Oh wow.

She was fourteen years in the past.

She limps out of the forest, dazed but not confused enough to ruin her train of thought: go to the item shop, find her clothes. The Malnosso always left clothes. And then she'll head to the smithy, to find her sword and... and then she'll need to find Winry in the smithy. Now dressed up, she's found herself a good pair of glasses; if she can... if she can, she'd rather not tell them who she is. Would that change things?

Would that be so bad, though? She's not entirely sure. She's nervous and worried and—and—

... nostalgic. Much much later, after everything, she'll head to the houses of people she's most familiar with. A lot of people aren't where she remembers, but she'll try to find them none-the-less. Probably after heading to where her mom and dad are. She'll also be wondering around in awe at the place. So much different and yet so much changed.... Don't mind her if she looks dumbfounded at something, or surprised at another. If you're expecting a shorty, you'll be surprised—she's 5'9". Her father has great genes, like that.]


[ooc: EDIT: sorry, but it turns out a second post isn't gonna happen; this post exploded! XD You can catch her on the draft, pre-draft log or malnosso journal draft post though!
Go here to see extra information about her future relationships and her. Go here to fill out the relationship post if you haven't yet!

And lastly, I'll reply to this in a few hours! Got something to do real quick.]

[[Nighttime; June 23rd]]

[Elicia had had a tough week.

Shuffle, shuffle—the sound of turning blankets and small feet moving back and forth through them. She's been rolling in her sleep for a few minutes now, flipping her hidden journal into a little book tepee, while it records the buzzing air and soft incoherent murmurings of a child dreaming. They're not happy dreams, after a while, and it takes but a moment before she's wide awake and horrified and crawling under her blankets with her mouth in a shaky near-crying line. The journal. That's right.

She reaches over and opens it up all the way, unable to see anything in the dark. Her voice is watery and lined with a sort of innocent, hurt desperation when she speaks.]

[Voice]

Please tell me a story. I wanna hear stories, if anyone... wants to talk... I like them a lot. I—I promise I'll go back to sleep, but I just wanna hear one...

[Pretty, pretty please...

But despite stories, sometime in the night, she rises up from her bed and patter-pitters quickly into her parents' room. Scary, they're too scary—and they could be real. Because she's seen scary real things like it before. And the last thing she wanted was a blue-eyed woman slowly creaking out of her closet, like she kept imagining, over and over and over again...]

[[Daytime; June 24th]]


[It was a cold snap, today. Elicia wore her poofy pink jacket for the occasion. Truth be told, she's had a very tiring night of trying to sleep, and she'd failed at it fairly well. There were a mesh-up of things. Scary things. She didn't want to draw any of them, so she decided on focusing her attention to playing. By the end of her short-lived playtime outside, she's laying on her arm on the front steps of her house, the fake pink sword Law gave her still clamped in her hand.

A good nap. There was nothing scary... Just good. That was important. It's a good thing children bounce back well enough, even if only for a while, because she's got a content air about her later on in the day. Anyone who wants to visit, now's a great time to; she'll be drawing funny circles all over the ground outside with a stick. Clapping her hands and smacking them. And nothing happens. :|

But she sure as hell is pretending something's happening.]
( WHAT'S UP, ELICIA? )

((ooc: Just make it clear which day you're replying to and all that. I have faith in you. |Db))