« 005 » fifth circle. action. backdated to the 22.

[disembodied]

[ There's a suit of armor sitting by the fountain today. It's slumped over, birds have landed on the broad shoulders and perched upon the jutting horn. evening is falling.

There's a large, red bow tied around the armor and a note. Happy Birthday Edward. ]

Comments

[oftheyin]

[Have a Xingese ninja walking towards you, Al.]

Alphonse? [He was here?]

[truthhides.livejournal.com]

[ THERE IS NO RESPONSE. At least not a noticeable one. ]

[oftheyin]

[That's not right. Ran Fan walks up to him and places a hand on his shoulder.]

Alphonse?

[truthhides.livejournal.com]

[ There's a groan from inside the armor. ]

[oftheyin]

[Oh thank god! At least he's in there.]

Alphonse? Wake up. [She gently nudges him, trying to wake him up.]

[truthhides.livejournal.com]

[ IT WOBBLES AND FALLS OVER.

THE HELMET ROLLS OFF. IT'S ALL VERY DRAMATIC. and one skinny arm scrambles to grab the rim of the armor. ]

[oftheyin]

[That just freaks Ran Fan out! She jumps back, kunai in hand, waiting to see what happens and if she has to attack or not.]

[truthhides.livejournal.com]

[ There's a grunt. Al manages to pull himself up a little more. His arms are shaking and the effort is monumental, but there. ]

Ah... Ran Fan?

[oftheyin]

[Ran Fan was still ready to attack.]

Who are you? How do you know my name? [Because she's never seen Al in his body.]

[truthhides.livejournal.com]

It's Alphonse.

[ A very naked, very human, very skinny, giddy looking Alphonse. ] But, I guess you wouldn't recognize me like this. [ his smile widens. ]

[oftheyin]

Alphonse? [It certainly sounded like him, but he's a human. This was weird.]

How can I be sure?

[truthhides.livejournal.com]

[ man you have no sympathy ran fan. it's cold and he's starved and you make him think. ]

Ah... You could ask me something that only I would know.

[oftheyin]

[She'll be REALLY sorry for this later.]

Who did you take me to for my arm?

[automailed]

[Have an Edward wandering down the street, hands in his pockets, looking like a guy in a pretty good mood despite his brother being missing. He's got new automail, his birthday doesn't completely suck, and he's on his way to-

-Wait.

Wait.

There is a very familiar suit of armor by the fountain.]

[automailed]

[OKAY HE IS RUNNING THE HELL RIGHT OVER THERE NOW.

Dropping to his knees in front of Alphonse, he gives the armor a shake, eyes wide, hopeful and frightened at the same time. The bow is registered, but now focused on, especially when Al doesn't seem to be awake right now.]

Al! Al, wake up!!

[truthhides.livejournal.com]

[ There's not an immediate response. A slight shifting, a muted groan. ]

Brother?

[automailed]

Al! [Instant relief. Though he's a little worried, still, what it means that the light isn't returning to Al's eyes. He gives the armor another little shake, just in case.] I'm here, can you hear me!?

[truthhides.livejournal.com]

[ There's a sleepy sort of groan.

And then?

Then, the head shifts. It tilts up, and up, and up, then clatters noisily off to the side... ]

[automailed]

[...............................................

Oh.

My.

God.

Al's in the armor.

Physically. In the armor.

As in it's his body.

Holy shit.]

A... Al...

[Hesitantly, shakily, he reaches out, to grasp Al's shoulder. He's thin, like he's barely there at all, but it's- it's solid. It's real. And it's the same Al he saw in the gate.

Holy shit.]

[truthhides.livejournal.com]

Brother...?

[ He feels like he's slept a thousand years. Oh. Sleep. He was sleeping. He's sleepy. It's a bizarre feeling. He can feel his hand. His toes. He's shivering.

He can feel it.

He can feel it.

Oh. Oh. Oh. He can feel it! He turns to stare at his hands, flexing bony fingers, golden eyes going wide. ] It's...!

[automailed]

[Okay.

Okay, breathe, Edward. This is serious, you need to breathe.

For a long moment, he can do nothing but stare. Al's... Al's really...

And finally his gaze drifts down to the ribbon around the chestplate. Happy Birthday. They'd really... and after only doing one mission...!

It's a dream come true. And in one quick motion he's unclipped the armored chestplate, flinging it aside to grab Al and pull him into a hug. He could probably stand to be a little more gentle about it, but he at least has the decency not to hold him so tightly as to break those fragile little bones.

His brother... his brother is whole again...!!]

Al, I can't believe it! Just look at you!

[truthhides.livejournal.com]

[ He can feel it. He can feel his brother's arms around him, the rough scrape of the heavy winter fabric against his frail skin, smell the gross, musty, wintery smell of the jacket.

It kind of hurts. It's all kind of unpleasant. But that doesn't matter, because he's reaching out and gripping his brother as tightly as his malnourished body will allow. His shoulders shake slightly, there's a sob - and all at once the overwhelming joy is increased tenfold because he can cry and smile and everything is wonderful. ]

I'm back!

[automailed]

[Edward tries his best not to drag out the hug, though a part of him wants to hold on to Al and never let go; at the back of his mind, though, he knows that it's below freezing out here, and with the state his body is in, Al can't stay outside for too long without getting sick. So he carefully extracts himself, tugging free a few more pieces of the armor to give Al more room to move.]

Come on, let's get you out of that thing!

[He grabs his jacket next, pulling it off to wrap it around Al's shoulders, offering what little comfort he can from the frosty air. As he does so, a new addition to his body is suddenly visible.]

[truthhides.livejournal.com]

[ he closes the gap with his hand, offering a smile. Wait - oh. ]

Oh, your automail... [ bro.

bro.

i'm going to touch it. ]

[automailed]

[Edward follows his gaze, then grins even more broadly; he's suddenly reminded of just why today is doubly the best birthday ever.]

Yeah, isn't it awesome? Winry made it for my birthday!