here we go again...

[bulletbiter]

Who: Everyone
Where: Aimintas
When: Day 56
Open/Closed: OTA

[ Feel free to use this entry as a mingle for whatever your characters will be up to during the bigger Uvi attack! You can find details about it in this weekly update post.

(This post is forward dated by a few hours as I temporarily forgot how timezones work... please forgive me.) ]

Comments

[soulcomet]

[it isn't until there's a rare lull in work to be done that Madoka finally has a chance to pause to catch her breath — to find and talk to Al. she had been there when he arrived, and she had seen ... well, she saw what was underneath the armor.]

[now isn't a good time to be asking about it — and perhaps it isn't something he would want to discuss to begin with. she's trying so hard to quash any curiosity she has, the only thing she's outwardly conveying now is concern for him, underneath the tiny, tired smile she's mustering.]

Thank you ... you've really been a big help.

[alphonse]

I think I should be the one saying that.

[He hasn't missed how exhausted she looks, but with so many lives on the line he understands that real rest isn't a luxury any of them can afford. Still, it seems even more unfair in her case, and it's hard not to think that if he'd been better at protecting people they wouldn't be relying so hard on the already overworked med team.]

I know it doesn't feel like we're winning, but you've saved a lot of people.

[He can't begin to guess what she must thinking about him after the way he showed up, but he's not so much avoiding the subject as he is dismissing it as irrelevant. They've all got bigger priorities, and for now he's just hoping that talking to him will be enough of a distraction to get Madoka to take even a brief break.]

[soulcomet]

[Madoka lowers her head slightly, a touch bashful — but then she shakes her head.]

I'm just doing what Qri's asked of me, I think ... I'm happy that I've been able to do that, at least.

[but she steps closer, and reaches out to take Al's hand. smiles up at him.]

But you ... to put yourself out on the line completely like you have? [Madoka doesn't know his story. she doesn't have an explanation for why Al seems to have a suit of armor for a body, but she doesn't need one — the fact that he was willing to expose that secret because others needed his help tells her all she needs to know right now. that she was right in making friends with him.]

To me, that's just as important or brave as any number of people someone else can save.

[alphonse]

[Any response he has evaporates when Madoka grabs his hand, and for a long moment he stares at her in stunned silence. It's the kind of thing Winry would do--did do--and he's reminded of that night a long time ago when she and Ed hunted him down to guide him back home. Now, just like then, the gesture helps put the world back in focus, chasing off the creeping urge to brood or give in to self-pity. There's still work to be done and people who need him.

He drops his head and manages a small, quiet laugh. He could try and argue her point, but he's got a feeling they'd just end up going back and forth all day. Time for a compromise.]

We're both doing what we can. How about that?

[It's the most lighthearted he's sounded since the fighting began, and though it can't last, it's a welcome bit of respite.]

[soulcomet]

[she laughs a little as well. Madoka ... also gets the sense that they could argue over it forever — at least until one of them falls asleep (it'd probably be her).]

I can accept that.

Please rest here for a little while, okay? Or ... if you do head back out there, promise me you'll be careful?

[alphonse]

[Who actually needs to stop and take care of themselves could easily be a similar debate. Here, though, Al does have an advantage.]

I promise. But you don't need to worry about me--I can't get hurt or feel tired, so I'll be fine.

[Unlike other certain someones.]

You should try and rest up while you can, though. Have you even had anything to eat yet?

[soulcomet]

[Al and Madoka would both make excellent tanks. but she frowns at his question, thinking back.]

Ah ... I had some tea earlier? It's been so busy.

[alphonse]

[Madoka...]

Well, we've got a few minutes now. Why don't you sit down and let me go get you something?

[He can fetch more than just injured Palai, probably.]

[soulcomet]

Oh! If you're sure ... I'd really like that.

[it's not like they dragged chairs out to this makeshift battlefield hospital, so Madoka just. settles herself down on the ground right there.]

[alphonse]

[Oh, right. The problem doesn't occur to him until Madoka's already on the ground. Well, before he rushes off... With a clap, Al transmutes a chair for her out of stone. It's not the most comfortable thing in the world, but at least there's a way to lean back.]

I'll be right back. Any special requests?

[soulcomet]

[well, that was officially the coolest thing she's ever seen — Madoka's briefly stunned into silence, as she resettles herself down on the chair, poking at it curiously. that was ... science?]

[... she should answer Al's question] Um ... Anything you're able to get safely is fine with me. I'm not picky about food at all.

[alphonse]

[Al makes it a quick supply run, and upon his return he transmutes a table to lay everything out on. The nice thing about Madoka knowing his secret is that he was free to store things inside the armor instead of dealing with the hassle of carrying them by hand, but it makes for an... interesting unloading process.]

I couldn't find much that didn't get wrecked in the fighting. If this keeps up, I'll look for more when I go back out for real.

[For now he's got water, fruit, and some wrapped up baked goods that have a 50/50 chance of being part fish since Al chose them by sight alone. (Think of it as an adventure.) It's not enough to feed everyone they've brought in for treatment, but Al hopes it's one less errand for Madoka.]

[soulcomet]

No, this is perfect! Thank you — you've really helped us out of a tight spot here.

[luckily, Madoka is an adventurous eater — and for reasons unspecified right now, she's even been taking notes on the strange foods she's tried so far.]

[and so, she picks up a pastry, looking briefly pensive. she doesn't mean to say something so sudden, but she'd been thinking about it while Al was out there gathering food.]

Listen ... you don't have to explain anything to me that you don't want to, but ... when this is all over, if you need to, you can always talk to me. Okay?

[just. wanted to make sure he knew.]

[alphonse]

Yeah. Thanks, Madoka.

[By now it doesn't surprise him that she'd say something like that, but he's still incredibly appreciative. If he were in her place he's not so sure he'd let such a mystery go without curiosity getting the better of him.]

I should probably get going, but we can talk later.

[Even if she won't demand an explanation, he owes her something.]

[soulcomet]

Okay. I'd really like that.

[she probably won't be hard to find — if there's a first aid station, there Madoka will be. and if all else fails, there's telepathy.]

Take care of yourself out there, all right?