[network] @ADMIN; Arrival

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Comments

[armoured]

[He snorts, amused.]

If Church was really that annoyed, I think he probably would have left you guys by now.

[spoileralert]

[ She laughs. ]

We're the lesser of several evils. His friend Caboose calls him like, every hour, all through the night.

[armoured]

But he doesn't want to meet up with Caboose?

[spoileralert]

Do you have any friends you don't really like, but you'd maybe stop and help if they got hit by a car?

I think it's kind of like that.

[armoured]

Um, no.

[What kind of question is that?]

I like all of my friends. I guess I have some acquaintances like that, like Dr. House? I don't really want to spend much time with him, but I'm always going to be around to help him if he needs it.

[spoileralert]

There you go. "Friend" really just... isn't the right word.

[armoured]

If he calls every night, that seems like he might be more than just an acquaintance, though?

[spoileralert]

[ She nods sagely. ]

Unrequited love.





Some people call that stalking.

[armoured]

Hey! Don't be mean, I'm sure that's not what's happening.

[Church doesn't seem the type to have a fan stalker.]

Have you talked with Church about the possibility of meeting up with them?

[spoileralert]

Calls every hour? That's a little stalker-y.

I brought it up once, and he was pretty insistent. We're headed in the opposite direction right now, and if we keep going back and forth we're not going to get anywhere before the town rears up to swallow us whole.

[armoured]

[He snorts, but he won't argue with that.]

I'm heading down to the entrance area, I need to get supplies pretty soon and I want to check out the fast food restaurant.

[Especially now he's lost Joker. So. Annoyed.]

[spoileralert]

Aw, I'm jealous. You'll have to have some coffee in my place.

[armoured]

How about I save you some? For if-- if we meet up again.

[There's just the hint of sadness behind that.]

[spoileralert]

When we meet up again.

[ It's not like Al to be so pessimistic. ]

Don't forget we've got a war to end back in your world.

[armoured]

[It's a long... long pause, and his voice is pretty subdued when he replies.]

You're still coming back with me? I thought-- I thought you would want-- I mean... you have Zach.

[spoileralert]

[ what.... Al what... ]

Zach doesn't want to go back to his world. My world is great and all, but it doesn't have you. If I can there are a lot of people I'd like to help, but if I only get to choose one... well, it's a no-brainer.

[armoured]

[There's another long pause, and this time his voice is so distinctly cracked. Like he would be crying if that were even possible for him.]

S-Steph--

[Just give him a minute.]

I thought you didn't want to any more, I thought-- I thought you were forgetting about me.

[spoileralert]

Al... [ Jesus, this is heart-wrenching. She suspected he might be bitter that she chose to go after Zach, but after the last time they talked she thought he understood. ]

You were there for me when I didn't have anyone else. I'm never gonna forget about you, no matter who else comes in to my life.

[armoured]

[He's not bitter, he's just sad.]

M-Mm.

[It's not much of a reply, just a shaky sort of hum, but it's all he can manage without embarrassing himself further.]

[spoileralert]

[ Oh gosh don't cry, baby! ]

I love you, Al. I mean it.

[armoured]

[He hiccoughs and his voice is thick despite his best efforts, even though he can't actually cry.]

I love you too.

[Stupid, he's so stupid.]

It's just-- you died, and you didn't even wait to see me. You came back this whole different person with new memories and-- and it felt like you didn't need me any more.

>> private;

[spoileralert]

Oh.

[ She stares at the feed for a minute, not really sure what to say. Finally she switches the feed to private. ]

I'm sorry, Al. I wasn't expecting it to be the last time we saw each other. I thought we'd all meet up again, you know? And it's not that... we're not friends because I needed something from you.

private;

[armoured]

[There's the quiet sound of a shuddering exhale as he tries to bring himself under control.]

I know that. I'm sorry.

[He's not going to say any more, not when it sounds like whining in his own head. So he forces himself to try and sound more cheerful.]

So, uh-- so does Zach know he's coming to Amestris too?