XX: Lovebox

Of Friends and Lovers:

Simone’s Notes:

Monogamy is the custom or condition of having only one mate in a relationship, thus forming a couple. The word monogamy comes from the Greek word monos, which means one or alone, and the Greek word gamos, which means marriage or union. Serial monogamy is having no more than one sexual partner at a time but allows for multiple partners in a lifetime. In western culture serial monogamy is common with individuals before they start a family, due to divorce rates.

Before the events began to unfold, Molly began making a map. It was at breakfast when this map started. Molly was writing and drawing something on a napkin. Her work caught Alphonse’s eye.

“What are you doing, Molly?” he asked. His bunny looked up at him.

“My latest project,” she answered causally. Al was still confused.

“But what is it?” he asked. Molly just kept smiling at him.

“A map,” she said. “Care to read?” Alphonse looked at the napkin. Molly had written her name in the center of the napkin. His name was next to hers. A line connected the two together. Alphonse looked to the right of his name. Amy, Bev, and Carrie’s names were all around his. They too were connected with lines. Alphonse looked up at Molly confused.

“What is this a map of?” he asked her innocently. Molly smiled at him sweetly.

“Everyone’s relationships,” she replied. “This is only stage one. I have more work to do and I have more work to do. I might even need a bigger piece of paper to map out.”

“But why?” Al asked.

“Why what?” Molly asked.

“Why a map?” he asked.

“Because,” the bunny answered. “I believe everyone is in a relationship with someone somehow romantically. And I want to find out.”

“Oh,” Alphonse replied. “I see.” Molly went back to work on her map.

Just then, the doors blew open wide in dining hall. Everyone looked up to see Jakob and Riza. They looked around at the audience. The newly wed couple was nervous about this at first. But after a few talks, they were ready to come out and announce the good news. They even went over what they wanted to say to Esther, Roy, and everyone else. Alice was in the back corner of the dining hall watching. She was hoping that this would keep on flying. This mission was going beautifully so far. Ai-Oni hadn’t intervened just yet. But knowing her, she could at any given time. So, Alice kept her eyes on the couple and her ears out for her friend/enemy. And sure enough, Ai-Oni was sitting right next to her.

“Miss anything?” the she-devil asked in excitement. Alice just rolled her eyes annoyed.

“No,” she hissed softly. “It hasn’t even started yet!” The dark mistress smiled.

“Great!” Ai-Oni chirped. “I’m just in time!” Alice just rolled her eyes again.

“This will be a stupid question to ask,” the love deity spoke up. “But why the hell are you here?” Her friend/enemy just kept smiling at her wickedly.

“To support your mission!” she said. “That’s what friends do after all!” “Some friend you are!” Alice thought bitterly. She then just took a drink of her pomegranate juice.

“Whatever!” she hissed.

“Shhh!” Ai-Oni said quickly. “It’s starting!” Jakob stepped forward smiling.

“Everyone!” he asked aloud. The audience waited patiently. Riza stood next to him and took his hand. Their weddings enhanced their perfect fit. The mouse took in a deep excited breath.

“Riza and I got married three weeks ago!” he said aloud in happiness. The couple held up their hands so that their rings could catch the light. Silence was all around. Mikey, Hunter, and Ginny were all shocked that friend just married at such a young age. Isaac and Callie were surprised that he even had a girlfriend. The dogs of the military were surprised that Riza had even settled down. Mustang was even bitterer. His rival was now married to his ex. The newly wed couple kept waiting for a reaction. Then Mikey stood up and clapped. More applause followed. Pretty soon, the whole dining hall was clapping for the newlyweds. Jakob and Riza began to relax. Part one of the news was over. Now to tell Esther and smooth it over with Roy.

The whole day, Jakob and Riza were followed around many questions and congratulations. Jakob’s friends and brother kept asking him to show him his ring. He showed it to them causally. They were pretty amazed by its shine. Mikey was happy for his crush and was pleasant enough to let him go and be happy. The girls kept asking Riza about her new husband. She just lightly gave them a little bit of the details. They seemed to be so charmed about the young Jakob Riis himself. The girls all kept talking about him as if he was a popular jock at a high school. They all seemed to envy Hawkeye-Riis in a sense. The couple was showered with congratulation and praise. However, not everyone was too happy about Jakob and Riza’s romantic union.

Mustang was still bitter that Riza left him for Jakob. He had picked up drinking again because of it. Even Daphine was losing hope in him. Ai-Oni and Alice were watching him at the bar. The she-devil turned to her friends/enemy smirking.

“Okay Alice,” she said aloud. “How are you going to fix him?” Alice was to herself proudly.

“Oh, dear Ai-Oni,” the love deity replied. “I have already got it fixed! I have already got it fixed!” The devil woman raised her eyebrow at that statement.

“Oh?” she asked. “How so?” The love deity didn’t answer her at all. Mustang rose to his feet staggered to the door. Alice rose to her feet and followed behind. Ai-Oni watched on. She was both shocked and amused. The she-devil couldn’t help but to smirk to herself. “This should be interesting!” she thought. Then, she flew up into the skies again to see what Alice was going to do next.

The love deity trailed the Lt. Gen. all the way back to his apartment. Her timing had to be just right for this scheme to work. Alice watched his every move. “Just go to sleep!” she kept thinking. “Just go to sleep!” So far, Roy was taking his sweet time. He ate, bathed, got dressed for bed, brushed his teeth, and went right to bed. Alice sat in the corner of his bedroom waiting. Daphine was ready asleep in bed. Mustang looked beside of him at her. He was just stuck now. The woman he loved was married to someone else and the woman he was with he didn’t love that much. Sure, Daphine had the looks. But all she was to him was a screw buddy. A relationship was almost impossible to happen between them. Mustang just shook his head. “Guess I’m stuck with you now!” he thought. Then, he lied down and went to sleep.

Alice stood up and walked over to Mustang. She checked to see if he really asleep. The man was out cold. The love deity drew in a deep breath. “I hope this works!” she thought. Then, Alice held out her hand over the sleeping lt. gen. and closed her eyes. The love deity began chanting to herself. Soft white lights began to form around her feet. The lights slowly fled up around her. Then, Alice disappeared in a flash.

[Dream mission begins]

Alice sat behind the paper-thin visible wall that stood between watching and acting. First she would observe him. Then she would talk some sense into him. Alice walked up to the wall and peeked in. This seemed to be one of Mustang’s favorite dreams. Jakob was tied up to steak like a heretic witch during the witch trials. Roy stepped forward grinning at him wickedly. He had his best gloves on for this event. Jakob stared at him in deep fear. Mustang just stood right in front of him. He wanted to do this!

“Any last words, you little runt?” the lt. gen. hissed aloud.

“I… I didn’t know!” Jakob pleaded out loud. “I didn’t know Riza was your girl! I’m truly sorry!” Mustang just smirked at him coldly.

“Yeah right!” he barked. Then he snapped his fingers at the dry straw below. The fire instantly started up. Alice winced as she watched the barbeque. “Damn!” she thought. “This is getting out of hand! I have to step up and talk to him before he gets anymore ideas!” She had to wait a few seconds before she could intervene. Let him have his fun first and then get serious. Mustang just kept watching the fire. This was what he wanted so badly. Now Riza was free to be his forever and ever. This would a great warning to the other men that tried to pursue her. But yet, there was a great emptiness in his soul towards the end. It was all as if the fire show was meaningless and pointless. Mustang just sighed in boredom.

“Very nice display!” a voice called out to him. Mustang quickly turned and saw Alice walking towards him. She had just walked through the wall when she had enough of the show. “But yet, I found it pretty tasteless. I mean, what would Riza say if she found you burning her husband to a crisp like a witch? I highly doubt she would take you back after that. In fact, have you ever thought about Riza’s feelings for this ‘runt’ as you call him cruelly?” Roy looked at her confused.

“And who the hell are you?!?” he asked aloud. Alice stood in front of him.

“Just a passerby,” she said innocently. (She opted not to go for the angel route because he was an atheist and it was just too cliched.) Mustang looked like he didn’t believe her at all.

“Anyway,” Alice said. “I know why you feel so empty after you burned Riza’s husband to a crisp.” Roy raised a curious eyebrow at her.

“Oh?” he asked. “Why then?” Alice took in a deep breath.

“I shot an arrow into Riza’s heart!” the love deity exclaimed. Mustang’s eyes widened in shock.

“WHAT?!?” he yelled out in hurt and anger.

“I shot Riza in the chest with a true love arrow, she saw Jakob, and they fell in love and got married!” Alice blurted out. “There, I saw it!” Mustang was really enraged now. He grabbed her brutally.

“You broke us up?!? You’re saying that you broke Riza and me up?!?” he yelled out. The love deity nodded strongly. Mustang was hurt, angry, and confused now.

“Well, can’t you make her fall out of love with Jakob?” he asked desperately.

“No!” Alice answered strongly. Mustang dropped her in shock.

“But why not?!?” he asked in more hurt and anger.

“It’s the white arrow of true love!” Alice told him strongly. “That is the only arrow that cannot be undone even if the arrow is pulled out of her heart!”

“So she’ll love Jakob until she dies?” Roy asked her. Alice nodded once. His onyx eyes suddenly changed. The love deity noticed that they were full of sorrow now. He grabbed Alice by her hands tightly.

“But what can I do to make this emptiness go?” the man pleaded. The love deity began to smile softly.

“Just let her go,” she replied. Roy looked at her confused.

“What?” he asked.

“Let her go and be happy,” Alice commanded. “She loves Jakob and he loves her. It’s over. Just let her go now and get on with your life.”

“And then what?” Roy asked in misery. Alice kept smiling.

“Love the one you’re with!” she told him. Mustang raised an eyebrow at her.

“You mean Daphine?” he asked in shock. The love deity nodded seriously. She held up her hand before he could speak again.

“Give her a try. Who knows? You might find that you two were made for each other.” Alice told. “After all, well there's a rose in the fisted glove, and eagle flies with the dove, and if you can't be with the one you love honey, love the one you're with” Right then, Mustang began to feel better.

“You know what?” he asked. “Riza’s loss with me!” Alice smiled at him.

“That’s it!” she called. “Just keep telling yourself that and be happy with Daphine!”

“Hell yeah!” Mustang yelled out. Alice kept smiling. Her part was done now. It was time to sit back and let Roy fixed himself up for the better for everyone’s sake.

[End of Dream Mission]

Alice was walking around outside of the apartments. She had just fixed one of the problems in her mission. The poor soul was now exhausted. What she would give now for a bath! But on the up side, Alice still had the power to enter in and out of dreams safely. Alice was about to sit down again when she heard an applause. The love deity looked up and saw Ai-Oni clapping at her on a bus station bench. She was grinning at her wildly. Alice just rolled her eyes again.

“Well done, Alice!” Ai-Oni said aloud. “I never would’ve thought of a dream intervention to tame the wild and pig-headed Mustang. And the beauty of it is, you can’t get in trouble for it because it follows the willing rule of love missions! Well done!”

“Shut up!” Alice replied. “I’m too tired to deal with you.” Then she plopped down next to her friend/enemy. She just breathed out hard. Ai-Oni just smiled at her innocently.

“Oh come on!” she called out innocently. “I’m just trying to boost you up!” Alice just glared at her coldly and said nothing. She just sighed again. Both women looked at the stars.

“Still,” Ai-Oni spoke up. “What are you going to do about Jakob’s mommy dearest?” Alice’s eyes grew big in worry at that question. Her problems were only half over. Now, she remembered why she hated Ai-Oni at times. “Damn her!” Alice thought annoyed. “Just damn her!”