[Al wanted to seek Izumo out immediately after the removal, wanted to offer some kind words or support to repay the things she'd already done for him, but—hesitant and afraid of overstepping—decided to give her time and wait til Monday
he hadn't anticipated losing his sight, nor how long it would take to adjust his already unnatural connection to the armor, but by Tuesday he's somehow been able to dedicate more energy to hearing, and hears her walk by]
[ al, by pure and random luck, will have picked the best day of the entire week to flag izumo down. (and i think that's wonderful.) so when he calls to her, she'll stop in mid step but look unbothered by it.
...though at the same time....? ]
Oh, Alphonse. [ ......hm. ] What do you mean if it's me?
[ huh. okay... izumo will let that slide because, well, what else can she really do about all of it? it kind of makes sense to her, if she thought about honestly. ]
Ah, well, you don't have to be too worried. [ kind of. ] He and I were never on good terms.
[ but she did make it clear that she didn't want to see him die either. ]
Well, it was different than the other ones [in that she didn't have to execute him by hand] but still, even watching people you don't like die is hard. [why does he sound so...knowing about that?]
...have you ever seen anyone die, Izumo? Before coming here, I mean?
[ his concern is endearing to her but at the same time, makes her feel a bit guilty because of everything. she looks away for a moment after he asks her question. ]
I had thought so, not long after we first met. I'm sorry if it was rude of me to ask. [even though it doesn't usually give away much more than her voice, he wishes he could see izumo's expression]
These demons that you talk about exorcising...are they like people?
It's fine, I don't mind. As for the demons they can look like people as in they have a humanoid form. They're still demons but they don't always look that much different than us.
[ a moment for her to consider things. hmm. ]
I don't think I've ever exorcised one of those but I've seen other things.
Ghouls, ghosts—all different kinds of demons that come in all sorts of different forms.
[ which is the best way to describe it because sometimes they look like little black fluff balls and then sometimes they're the size of mountains. that said, she'll lower her gaze when al asks about her friends.... ]
...notoriously, she would have turned down any such kind of blatant offer of friendship that came from somewhere lacking, however there seems to be something wrong with turning down the soul of someone her age bonded to a suit of armor. ]
Sure.
[ does she want it? well, it doesn't irritate her. ]
Sorry, I know it seems kind of simple, but it's important to have friends in bad or dangerous times. Even if you just met them. Even if it's just for a little while. It's nice and keeps us human.
[and he...offers out a handshake?? but unlike the slight bumbling of before, this seems more confident, as if it's more familiar territory]
Do you chase them around without introducing yourself? [his tone is playfully teasing]
But my case isn't exactly common where I come from either; that's why I usually keep it a secret. Transmutation involving humans is the most forbidden part of alchemy. Even though what happened to me was an accident.
Most of the time, actually. Lower level demons don't have much in terms of intelligence.
[ so...kind of okay? but not okay. also....human transmutation. ]
At least there are limits, though I guess unspoken, about what people will try. I have to wonder, if you ended up in a suit of armor... What other things can happen?
week 3 tuesday
he hadn't anticipated losing his sight, nor how long it would take to adjust his already unnatural connection to the armor, but by Tuesday he's somehow been able to dedicate more energy to hearing, and hears her walk by]
Um, Izumo? Is that you?
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...though at the same time....? ]
Oh, Alphonse. [ ......hm. ] What do you mean if it's me?
wow being sick sucked
I was going to look for you yesterday, but...[he waves a hand in front of his no-longer-glowing eyes]
it's all good!!
hmm. she'll be kind enough and not move from her spot. ]
We'll you've found me now, and I'll won't move from this spot if that'll make things easier for you.
[ how does one just guide blind suit of armor? ]
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[catching himself before he launches too far into speculation and metaphysical explanations]
But, that's not important right now! I was worried about you. After everything that happened.
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Ah, well, you don't have to be too worried. [ kind of. ] He and I were never on good terms.
[ but she did make it clear that she didn't want to see him die either. ]
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...have you ever seen anyone die, Izumo? Before coming here, I mean?
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Yes. I've seen plenty of people die.
[ die, killed... kind of the same thing, right? ]
I've exorcised demons too, you know.
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These demons that you talk about exorcising...are they like people?
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[ a moment for her to consider things. hmm. ]
I don't think I've ever exorcised one of those but I've seen other things.
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Being an exorcist, do a lot of people get killed? Like your friends?
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[ which is the best way to describe it because sometimes they look like little black fluff balls and then sometimes they're the size of mountains. that said, she'll lower her gaze when al asks about her friends.... ]
If I had any, I can't remember them.
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Well, until you remember them again, you have friends here right now. I think we're friends. Or we can be, if you want.
[with all the grace that a 15 year old who's stuck his foot in his mouth and wants to make it better can muster]
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...notoriously, she would have turned down any such kind of blatant offer of friendship that came from somewhere lacking, however there seems to be something wrong with turning down the soul of someone her age bonded to a suit of armor. ]
Sure.
[ does she want it? well, it doesn't irritate her. ]
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Okay! Yeah!
Sorry, I know it seems kind of simple, but it's important to have friends in bad or dangerous times. Even if you just met them. Even if it's just for a little while. It's nice and keeps us human.
[and he...offers out a handshake?? but unlike the slight bumbling of before, this seems more confident, as if it's more familiar territory]
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what a sight to behold, honestly. she'll blink a few times and does her best not to laugh. ]
I don't think most people shake hands after being friends.
[ that said, she'll take his hand and give it a shake. it isn't particularly firm or anything, but it's a handshake. ]
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he rubs the back of his head, sounding a bit embarrassed]
Haha, sorry, I guess most of the friends I've made over the past few years have been soldiers. More like comrades-in-arms than normal friends maybe.
Even with everything, it's been kinda nice to be in one place for a little while and meet people like you.
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[ a brief beat. ]
Not for long anyway. Souls inhabiting suits of armor are not exactly ignored.
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But my case isn't exactly common where I come from either; that's why I usually keep it a secret. Transmutation involving humans is the most forbidden part of alchemy. Even though what happened to me was an accident.
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[ so...kind of okay? but not okay. also....human transmutation. ]
At least there are limits, though I guess unspoken, about what people will try. I have to wonder, if you ended up in a suit of armor... What other things can happen?