[text] (backdated a couple of days)

[imperfect]

This won't surprise anybody keeping track, but we're down most of a lab for the time being. The power is out, and replacements for everything damaged are going to take a while. I'm kind of tied up at the moment.

The building's cleaned up and safe to go in again, if you want to go look for anything in particular yourself. Don't get your hopes up. Sorry.

It'd help if we could get a roll call of who's still around and didn't just have a change of priorities.

And on the off chance anyone does have equipment they'd be willing to spare or trade to speed this up a little, let me know. We can talk it over.cvffffff

[...Dammit!]

Comments

text forever because screw this (also, private)

[imperfect]

You get back here right now! If they're well enough to get in everyone's way, they're well enough for you to get rid of them!

voice forever because you don't want to see his typing (but private!)

[alphonse]

It sounds more like you're just not paying attention. I'll be back in a few minutes, so calm down.

-> ac...tion?

[imperfect]

No, you hurry it up if you don't want them all to be throw rugs! I told you we're not hanging onto them if you can't keep them under control!xszz

[At this point, mysteriously enough, he switches the tablet off.

If Al does come back in a few minutes, he'll stumble upon a distinct lack of chaos, unless a small gaggle of kittens lapping at a large dish of water in the middle of the floor qualifies - and Ed, who's sitting on the floor beside them with a towel draped over his automail but seems to have gotten distracted.]

[alphonse]

[He does hurry, mostly because he's expecting he'll have to save a bunch of defenseless kittens from Ed's wrath. Needless to say, what he gets instead is quite the surprise. Closing the door behind him softly, Al walks over to investigate.]

Brother? Are you all right?

[imperfect]

[Ed, quietly fluffing the fur on the nearest kitten's back, only notices the clanking far too late to pretend he wasn't.

He surreptitiously shuffles back a little and tries anyway.]

I'd be more all right if someone remembered to do this before I got in.

[alphonse]

I'd planned on coming right back, but it didn't work out that way. [But he'll get to that in a minute. For now he gestures to the towel.]

Were they bothering your automail?

[imperfect]

[He makes an irritable noise and carries on drying his arm, not looking Al in the eye.]

What were you doing?

[alphonse]

Just some shopping. [And coming home empty-handed. This is leading up to the worst way to ask Ed for a favor ever, so Al sits down and absently pets the first kitten curious enough to wander over.]

Did they really cause that much trouble while I was gone?

[imperfect]

[Ed finally looks up and fixes him with a dull stare, because this is infinitely preferable to admitting "no, not really".]

Get anything that's good for more than just cats?

[alphonse]

Actually... [Well. He'd might as well get it over with while Ed's still annoyed.]

I think I might need you to go back out and get some food for them later. You've seen how things are with the locals, right? They really aren't ready to deal with anyone who stands out as much as I do.

[imperfect]

[Oh.

Ed looks down again somewhat uneasily, an almost tangible chunk of his current tetchiness evaporating.]

Yeah, okay. Later. Anything else?

[alphonse]

Thanks. [Ed being agreeable to running cat-related errands is miraculous and not to be questioned. ]

With this many it can't hurt to go ahead and stock up on a few more things while we're at it. I'll make a list.

[imperfect]

Right. I'll wait.

[The towel squeaks along his arm.]

Just, you know... even if you aren't gonna put all of these back outside today, you need to start thinking about it, Al.

[alphonse]

I know. [And yet he doesn't stop petting the one beside him.]

Maybe we can convince some of the others to take a few of them in.

[imperfect]

You don't think they all have enough to deal with already?

[alphonse]

You make it sound like cats are a punishment.

[imperfect]

We can't just dump one of these on someone's doorstep and expect them to have everything they need to care for it, either. That wouldn't be fair.

[He starts to fold up the towel, trying to keep it out of reach of any hopeful nearby cats.]

[alphonse]

No, but if someone already wants a pet then one of these would be a good choice. They're really friendly and could use the extra attention.

[If this sounds like the beginnings of a sales pitch for keeping them himself, it's really just a coincidence. Probably. As if to cut Ed off from thinking so, he eyes the towel again.]

What happened, anyway?

[imperfect]

[Ed flushes extremely faintly and scowls at the floor.]

...They flipped it over the first time I tried to fill it.

[And yet, none of the kittens in the room show any sign of having been flung into a wall. It's embarrassing, dammit.]

[alphonse]

[The first thing he does is look away to make sure the kittens are all still in one piece; the second is to overcome the urge to laugh at Ed actually getting flustered about it. This time Al will cut him a break.]

Oh. Thanks for putting up with them, Brother. It shouldn't be for too much longer.

[imperfect]

It better not be. You know that if we can't convince enough people you'll just have to put the rest of them back where you found them.

[He starts to roll his shirt sleeve down, still without looking at Al.]

Say... apart from all that, you're not running into too much trouble out there, are you?

[alphonse]

Not really. The lady at the market said she wouldn't sell me anything unless I took off my armor, but there's not much I can do about that.

[It's not an unreasonable request, really, so he's not overly bothered.]

Mostly it just seems like people are scared. I can't really blame them for it, but all the same... It'd be a good idea for you to do what you can to blend in for a while.

[imperfect]

Just because it's easy to understand doesn't mean it's right. [But he does relax a little.]

What can I do, anyway? Pick up a hat? Whether they like it or not, a bombing raid doesn't clean up after itself.

[There's a kitten slowly but determinedly climbing up one of his legs. He pretends he hasn't noticed.]

[alphonse]

[Al, on the other hand, finds this interesting enough that it almost looks like he's addressing the kitten rather than Ed.]

Nothing that obvious. But when you're not using alchemy, it can't hurt to dress a little more like them and to try not to attract too much attention. We'll be in big trouble if no one wants to do business with either one of us.

[Somehow he doubts roommate number three would be of any help.]

[imperfect]

Not too much attention... Right. I can do that.

[The mildly defensive note in his voice (he didn't think there was anything wrong with his dress sense...), coupled with any awareness of what Ed is normally inclined to consider enough attention, should probably set a few alarm bells ringing.

But not for the kitten, which makes it up to his knee unhindered before gently flopping over it like it's trying to imitate the towel.]