[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

[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.]

[alphonse]

That's what you always say.

[As a self-respecting teenage boy, Al isn't about to stop and outright fawn over a kitten. But it sure is difficult to sound properly derisive when confronted with such an adorable display.]

Then again... If the people here take after the animals, you might not have anything to worry about.

[imperfect]

[Ed momentarily seems to be looking at something a lot further away than the cat.] Animals don't have as much to be scared of.

[He shrugs it off.]

Anyway, shut up and put this away for me too. [And he lobs the folded-up towel at Al's head just on principle, although it probably isn't aerodynamic enough to reach.]

[alphonse]

[The towel thunks harmlessly against his chestplate, so it's a pretty good effort. Al grabs it without any complaints about bossiness, mostly because he suspects Ed will give in and pay some attention to his new companion once he doesn't feel like they're being watched.]

Fine. But don't forget that I need your help later.

[imperfect]

I said I would, didn't I? Least I can do.

[In fact, he's already scooping the kitten up; it's not really possible for him to do it huffily and surreptitiously, so he's leaning on the former to get his point across.]

Just hurry up and give me the list before I change my mind.

[alphonse]

Give me time to write it first, Brother.

[The effort is more or less lost on Al, who heads to deposit the towel with the rest of the laundry.]

I should probably come along to help you carry everything anyway. I'll just have to wait outside and stay out of sight.

[imperfect]

[Once Al is no longer watching, Ed absently gives the kitten a scratch behind the ears.]

I'll be all right, Al.

[alphonse]

[From the sound of Al clanking through the apartment and rustling around for a spare sheet of paper, it's likely that Ed's in no danger of getting caught in the act.]

The litter alone's pretty heavy, Brother. This way we'll be sure to get everything everything we need in one trip.

[imperfect]

I can manage. It's fine.

[The cat gets bored of the petting before Ed does, and squirms until he lets it down. The other kittens around the water bowl are starting to disperse underfoot, too.]

[alphonse]

[It's several more minutes before Al emerges with the list. Writing legibly with hands as large as his takes a bit of effort and patience.]

You're sure?

[He's hesitant; he knows Ed can take care of himself just fine, but having a terrifying suit of armor around for backup tends to make people back down fast.]

The locals didn't seem that bad when I talked to them, but I've heard people a lot less strange looking than me say they were given a really hard time.

[imperfect]

[In the meantime, Ed finally hauls himself to his feet, and inspects his coat uncertainly for a moment before pulling it back on. Does it make him stick out? He still would've thought it was pretty ordinary compared to the red...

He looks up sharply when Al comes back.]

Yeah, but...

[...he's used to it? He hesitates. It's not exactly right, but he can't come up with a better excuse either to explain that or to keep Al at home, out of trouble.

He sighs.] Just pass it here. Someone's gotta pay attention to these things. [He makes an expansive gesture towards the floor.] They'll start climbing up the walls.

[alphonse]

[Al's not convinced, but he's not concerned enough yet to make Ed take him along either. After a brief stare down, he relents and hands the list over.]

Watch yourself. And you know to call me if you need help with anything.

[imperfect]

[Ed skims the list, resists the urge to sigh - yep, looks like more than one trip after all - and tucks it away.]

Yeah, yeah, I know. I won't be long. [He takes a couple of steps before looking down at his foot.] C'mon, move.

[He leaves pretty quickly once all of the kittens are out of the way.]