[log] You smell like metal [closed]

[armoured]

Characters: Melanie and Alphonse
Location: House 99
Date: Night of 208
Summary: Al goes to see a girl in isolation
Warnings: None yet

[He's a little ashamed it's taken so long, but Al is finally up where he promised to be to come and see Melanie. He wonders if she's even still here, living in isolation. It hurts his heart to think about. He doesn't want to frighten her, so he knocks on the door first and then pokes his head in, calling out in his high voice.]

Hello? Is anyone here? It's Al-- Alphonse Elric.

Comments

[titanette]

[She freezes for a moment when she hears his voice, a spark of anxiety rushing through her. What if he's wrong? What if he smells just as enticing and delicious as everybody else does? What if--

She can't finish that thought.]

Hello! I'm upstairs!

[The floorboards creak as she slowly makes her way to the top of the staircase.]

[armoured]

[It's both a relief and heartbreaking to know that she's still here, and Al has to resist the urge to move faster. He doesn't want to spook her. So he keeps his footsteps slow, the clank of his approach easy to hear.]

We spoke over the network, remember? I've brought you some food.

[titanette]

I remember.

[She comes carefully down the stairs, wary, expecting the hunger to overtake her at any moment. She stops about ten feet away from him.]

Thank you. I need to eat every day - more than one time every day.

[She says this like it's a new and kind of surprising thing.]

[armoured]

[He recognises that kind of surprise, it's what he still feels himself when he has to eat. He stays where he is, very slowly putting his bag down and getting some of the food out, holding it out to her as if she's a skittish animal.]

You want to come down? We can maybe share some.

[titanette]

Okay.

[She eases herself closer by inches.]

But if I tell you to run, you have to run.

[armoured]

Okay, I can do that.

[He's pretty confident that she won't need to do that, he knows there's no organic smell about him. It honestly breaks his heart that she's been here alone and scared for so long.]

I promise, you can't me, you don't have to be afraid.

[titanette]

[She can't just take him at his word. A lot of people have said that, but she knows they're wrong.

Another step closer.]

What kind of food do you eat?

[armoured]

I guess I eat whatever I can find here.

[It's still extremely strange to him that he has to eat at all.]

But my favourite food was the quiche my mom used to make for me when I was little kid.

[titanette]

Can I try quiche here?

[She has no idea what it is; for all she knows, it could be readily available. She takes a couple more steps at once, quickly, before she loses her nerve. She's only about ten feet away from him now, and she hasn't started to smell anything appetizing - not even a whiff. Cautiously, she begins to allow herself to hope.]

[armoured]

I wish.

[He sounds so nostalgic, soft and warm. He's very careful not to move, letting her bridge the distance at her own pace.]

Quiche is made with fresh ingredients, there's nothing like that here.

[titanette]

[Fresh ingredients mean absolutely nothing to her, so unfortunately, that doesn't get her excited. She focuses instead on coming closer and closer, and finally stops completely when she's just a few feet away.]

Oh-- I can't smell you at all.

[She's kind of in awe. This is brilliant.]

[armoured]

[He can't smile, but the enthusiasm coming off him in waves probably conveys how happy he is as he flashes her a big thumbs up.]

Right! I told you that you wouldn't be able to.

[Poor kid.]

Maybe now you know that I'm safe, you'd let me come back every so often and bring you things so you don't have to be alone?

[titanette]

Yes.

[She doesn't even have to think before giving that answer now. She can't ask him to stay with her, and she knows going with him would be too dangerous, but visits. This one isn't even over yet, and she's already anticipating the next one.]

But don't bring anybody else. Okay?

[armoured]

[His tone of voice is warm and genuine, and he reaches out a hand to try and rest on her shoulder.]

Okay, they'll just be for me and you. You want to help me come up with a special knock so you always know it's definitely me?

[ooc: Sorry for the wait, I've been on holiday with no internet for a few days.]

no worries!

[titanette]

Oh, yes!

[A secret knock, just like the secret sign codes she'd tried to make up back on the base.]

And I'll make a secret knock back to let you know everything's all right - and another one, if I'm in trouble.

[armoured]

That sounds like a great idea. But... you know you can always call me on the tablet too, if you need help or if you just want to talk, right? I'm LELRIC.

[He hates that stupid username.]

We're friends now, that means you can call on me anytime.