victory_road IC Inbox

[armoredsoul]

"Hi, this is Alphonse! Please leave a message and I'll get back to you when I can!"

Comments

12/03, audio

[foolishwren]

Heeeeey, Al.

So, I know I've been a little disconnected lately, but I, uh.

Heard you hadn't checked in with anybody in the house for awhile.

Gimme a call if you get this message, yeah?

TWO DAYS LATER...........................

[armoredsoul]

Um. Hi. I'm back now.

[Is he in trouble.]

[foolishwren]

--dude, why weren't you answering?

Are you okay?

Were you in trouble?

_{[If he wasn't already, he's GONNA be.]}

[armoredsoul]

I-I was--!

[Ah crap, no, not that face!]

I just...didn't want to be around anyone for a while. I'm sorry.

[foolishwren]

<sub>[You are getting that face AND MORE.]

[Her expression goes from concern to irritated disbelief very quickly.]</sub>

... And you didn't think to leave a note?!

Al!

[armoredsoul]

[nooooooo why this]

I've gone traveling all over the country on my own back home! I didn't think it was a big deal!

[foolishwren]

Did people back home regularly blip out of existence for no discernible reason?

[armoredsoul]

[For a second he almost looks like he might give a spirited retort...but then just shrinks down into that ever-present red coat.]

...sometimes.

[foolishwren]

Well, here it happens all the time, so maybe think about things before running off without a word!

It takes five seconds to write a note, and if you're even HALF able to fake a casual tone, nobody would've even known anything was wrong!

_{[Could it be that she's gotten pretty damn good at hiding a hell of a lot behind said casual tone, herself? PERHAPS.]}

[armoredsoul]

Mmm.

[He doesn't even look at the screen at this point.]

I'll remember next time.

[foolishwren]

Al.

Alphonse.

<sub>[It is very, VERY rare that Heather takes this kind of authoritative, frankly parental tone with anybody. She doesn't like to, for one thing, doesn't like to think of herself as the type.]

[But there are those times where she channels her father, and when they happen, she channels him hard.]</sub>

Look at me.

[armoredsoul]

[Al's gaze slides back up, but his expression isn't sullen like the other times he's been like this. Just tired and hurt.]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[DAMMIT it's really hard to stay mad at him.]

[But she's not really trying to, at least.]

[She still looks him right in the eye when she goes on, but she lets her tone soften a little.]</sub>

I've lost too many people in this place.

And when I stop letting this sort of thing be a big deal, well... that's when you'll know I've officially been here too long.

I'm only mad because I care, man.

I don't want you to disappear.

[armoredsoul]

[He's quiet for a few long moments, then nods. It's a little weird, this strange little family they've all become, but...]

I know...I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to scare anyone.

[foolishwren]

<sub>[That's what they are. Certainly from Heather's perspective, anyway.]

[It's not the first family she's had, no-- and if we're going to be pessimistic here, she doesn't honestly think it will be the last, either.]

[But it's what she has right now, and she'd rather hang onto it as long as possible.]</sub>

I know you didn't.

Just... there's people who care about you.

You don't have to spill your guts every time you have a problem-- I'd never ask you to do that-- but a word of warning goes a long way, all right?

[armoredsoul]

...yeah. Yeah, I know. I'm just not so used to people being around to notice right away, you know?

[He's been on the road for so many years, sometimes the simple little parts of a domestic life take him off-guard.]

I'll warn you all next time if I can.

[foolishwren]

Well, it's not even like I noticed right away, dude.

When I have to find out that you're missing from ENVY of all people...

_{[THAT'S RIGHT.]}