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a Luar in Fullmetal Alchemist
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Dinner! Nom nom.

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And soon it's time for bed.

 

Mr. Tucker continues to let her read his books, although he requests more and more of her assistance taking care of his daughter. She never sees his wife, but there are signs of her presence in the apartment -- books disturbed that Mr. Tucker was unlikely to have been reading, the kitchen used in ways she knows Mr. Tucker doesn't know how to imitate.

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Mr. Tucker is a useful neighbour to have. She spends most of her time at his place, reading his books and helping with his baby, but dedicates at least an hour every day or so to collecting and pursuing job offers.

With that Mageprice still weighing on her, and not much spare time or materials, she's a little reluctant to do any proper magic. She keeps her Three Books with her but goes days at a time without looking at them.

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A couple weeks later she knocks on the door and a woman's voice answers her. "Yes?"

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"Hi, it's Anne!"

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"Who's that?"

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...not previously mentioned, huh?

"I'm a new neighbour, I've been helping with housework so I can read the books!"

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"... Oh! Shou's new help." She exclaims awkwardly. "Well, then let's, let's get you settled inside."

She opens the door and lets Anne in. "What kind of work have you been doing?"

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"Mostly I help clean things up."

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"Brilliant, you can get started in the kitchen." There are quite a few pots left unwashed.

"After that I have to head back to the shelter -- normally I'd take Nina with me but I don't suppose you'd mind watching her here?"

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"I don't mind at all!"

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"Oh thank you. God, if I knew Shou's help was right next door I wouldn't have taken Nina to work nearly as often, she shouldn't be outside breathing factory air."

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"Well, I'm glad I can help," she says.

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She's fuming slightly. But when she turns back to look at Anne she's wearing a genuine, sunny smile. "Did he tell you my name?"

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Oh dear. "I don't remember him mentioning it."

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"It's Nancy, nice to meet you. Well, let's get started on those dishes!"

 

She's not angry. Well, she's not angry at Anne. She might be scrubbing a bit more forcefully than necessary.

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"Nice to meet you too," she agrees.

Dishes! Anne is very efficient at simple domestic chores.

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Nancy is impressed!

 

When they're finished she goes off to the shelter and leaves Anne with the baby and the books. 

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It is not very efficient to combine reading with watching a baby, but she manages all right.

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Nancy didn’t tell Anne when she was supposed to leave. It’s dark when she gets back, groceries in her arms. Shou is trailing behind her.

Nancy smiles tightly at Anne. “Thank you so much for helping around the house this last week. Are you interested in helping more regularly, longer term?”

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"I'd like that!"

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“Perfect!” Nancy says. “Shou, what do you think of a shift system? You both can alternate with the baby and I’ll do all the daily work at the shelter? You can come in on Mondays for the less frequent tasks?”

“I told you. We’re selling the shelter.”

“Shou,” her voice cracks, “I need to work. You can’t not involve me in – tell me about Anne, or about selling our –“

“The land belongs to me, I can decide what I want to do with it, and we need someone to take care of the baby. Selling the shelter is a good idea.”

“Anne is helping with the baby, Shou.”

“Anne barely knows us and could leave at any time, and only wants to spend the time studying anyhow –“

“Which is why we set up something long term! A written agreement! Why are you so averse to having anything in writing, Shou?”

“Why do you care more about the shelter than your own daughter?” He roars thunderously. 

She starts crying.

 

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Anne shrinks away and drops her eyes, exactly like a frightened teenager.

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They're ignoring her at the moment. Eventually they come to an agreement: they will sell the shelter and Nancy will look for jobs to support them.

"I'm so, so sorry you had to see the yelling. I just -- I just wanted to be on the same page as everyone." Nancy says to Anne, when Shou leaves the room. Anne might say something in return, but Nancy doesn't seem to hear it at all, let alone look like she's listening. She spends some more time justifying the argument and shoos Anne out the door. 

The following day someone has pushed a note under the door of Rebecca's apartment. It says that, while her help with the baby has been appreciated over the last week, the Tuckers will no longer be needing her assistance.

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The Tuckers seem like they need different assistance than she has been giving them, really. Although it will be a pity to lose access to all those lovely books. Still, it'll free up some time to look for actual employment, and Shou Tucker can't be the only source of good books about alchemy in the world.

...if she gets a chance, though, she's going to try to talk Nancy into taking the kid and going somewhere her husband isn't. Even aside from the overt red flags, something about this situation gives her the kind of feeling she recognizes as a nudge from the Wild Magic. It might just be that she's remembering that ominous note from the Book of Stars about sacrifice, and its tenuous connection with the category of her neighbours... but then again, that's exactly the sort of medium through which the Wild Magic might deliver a nudge.

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