fossilised | Snowblind Body Shenanigans

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Snowblind Body Shenanigans

This is an open post for anyone set in Norfinbury. It's a random scenario where @Admin has (for mysterious meme reasons) decided to give Al his body back. This isn't game canon, obviously, I just wanted to play about with Al in his body as it will never happen in game. Action and network responses are welcome, as well as fudging the locations of characters.

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[Al has become used to his periods of unconsciousness during the night now. He still can't think of them as sleep, not without dreams or his real body to rest in, but they're at least predictable. Usually he wakes quickly and without any grogginess that would come from real sleep, but today everything has changed.

He wakes up slowly that morning.

As soon as he wakes up, he knows everything is different. He can feel the wooden flooring under his back, rough and splintered, and hear the thud of his heart beating in his ears. He lifts one stick thin arm in amazement to stare at it, almost uncomprehending as he looks at his fingers splayed out in front of his eyes. This must be a dream. It has to be a dream, his first one in years, but... God, it feels so real.

He's in a state of shock as he pulls up to unsteady feet and scoops up his tablet automatically. He can barely keep hold of it, his fingers have none of his usual dexterity and his hands are trembling violently. It's this trembling that causes his fingers to slip and activate the video feed. The camera is at a strange angle, but it shows the upper half of a teenage boy in an extreme state of emaciation. His ribs are protruding and his stomach is concave. He has long blond hair that hangs down over one eye, the other one is wide and staring in surprise.

His legs seem ready to fold almost at once, but he forces himself to walk to the door and open it. The sunlight on the snow almost blinds him, and the wind causes goosebumps to raise on his skin immediately. He sets one bare foot in the snow and gasps, a delighted and amazed sound.]

Wow, it's so cold...

[He laughs softly, unable to stop the sheer wonder bubbling out of him. Is this real? Can it truly be so?]

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[ Zack at least seems to get the gist that he's comfortable, so at that, he leans away. The first thing he goes for now that Al's seated is the pack on his back. He takes it off, even as he speaks with excited warmth. ] Yeah, I'd say so! Sheesh, who'd'a thought, you know?

[ It sounds like the others are still preoccupied in the other room. Sleeping? Or maybe wrapped up in their own thing, catching up with other friends on their own tablets. He'd understand that. Always good to keep tabs on people around these parts.

But Al's got his full attention for now as he unzips his backpack and peels out an ugly looking bathrobe, yellow with purple glitter polka dots and obviously dirtied from laying around in a house. But in Norfinbury, you don't complain when you even find clothing of a sort, rare as it may be. ] You're in luck! I found this on my trip out this morning. Hold out your left arm.

[ Yep, he's gonna help dress him, too. Just like Cloud. ]

[Al reaches out and fingers the material of the dressing gown, chuckling softly at its ragged and less-than-fashionable appearance.]

Wow, I wonder who this used to belong to.

[Not that he's stopping Zack from helping to dress him. If he were Ed then this might have wounded his pride, but he knows when to accept help and he's just grateful to have someone who cares enough to want to help.]

Are you sure you don't want to keep it?

[ The first comment makes Zack pause. Because thinking of the lost townspeople never brings any good feelings out of him. But then Al goes on and there's a swift shake of his head as Zack chuckles. ] Nah, I'm good! [ There's a toothy smile there. Part a tease- like hell I'd be caught dead in that -but the true reality's pretty straightforward. With Al in the kind of state he's in, he's gonna need as much clothing to keep him warm as possible.

So, he's not worrying about Al's precious MANLY DIGNITY at the moment. Screw that. Zack's SOLDIER where you learn to take care of your own and minimize the bitching about having others care for you, even if you do find it embarrassing.

He's patient enough to allow Al to feel the gown with his fingers before he takes it by the one sleeve and starts gently tugging it up his arm. He keeps the movements careful and easy on his skin. After seeing what happened to Al's hair, he doesn't want to make anything worse. But once he's got the one arm through, he's back to curling an arm around his back. But this time, it's to pull the robe over. Easy... easy. He smile, having been lost for a bit as he's concentrated on the task, returns faintly. ] Gonna get your other arm and and then I'm gonna lift you, so we can tuck it under, alright?

[It's not the physical help that's starting to embarrass Al, but the way he's talking, almost as if Al's mind is as gone as his body. He knows Zack means well, but he can't help himself from reaching out and stilling his hand momentarily.]

Hey, I'm okay. You know that, right?

[His words are just as gentle and full of warmth. He knows this must come from taking care of that friend, the one who had been comatose and terrified, so he only wants to reassure Zack that this isn't the same.]

I just need a meal or two and I'll be back on my feet in no time.

[ Zack... pauses first at the hand on his, eyes automatically darting to Al's to make sure he's okay and he didn't hurt him or something. But no, he seems fine and-...

...There's something sheepish in his downward gaze. He really had been... ] ...heh. Sorry. Just didn't even realize... [ Even in Norfinbury, that habit's not escaped him, has it. Cloud... Taking care of Cloud had been hard. Talking to him like this... That's what had kept him sane and let him know that...

But Al's alright. Al's alert and with him. Al's... totally made of bullshit with that last comment. Enough to make Zack snicker as he looks back up at him. ] Only a meal or two? Make that at least a million. Jeez, kid... [ If Al will allow, he's gonna finish dressing him in that robe now. ]

[Thin fingers release their pathetic grip on Zack's arm. It's not like he could have stopped Zack continuing to dress him, it would have been like a kitten fighting a mastiff, but he doesn't even try to resist. He wants to be dressed and feel the warmth of this fluffy dressing gown.]

I'm not sure I could eat a million meals all at once, but...

[Red stains his cheeks a little.]

...I have got a list of all the things I wanted to eat when I got my body back. I bet there's at least a couple of hundred things on there by now, maybe I could start with those?

[Except... he knows as well as Zack that there's not a lot of food here at all, let alone variety. So he shrugs and smiles before continuing.]

I guess it's lucky that my number one food item was a can of processed vegetables, huh?

[ Exaggerations are fun like that though, Al! It also seems to shake out the awkward moment between them which Zack's more than thankful for. It gives him the chance to finish dressing him in that gown-- although he might have purposefully wrapped it over his face for a second. Totally subtly helping him rid of those tears in a kinda jackass way. At least he won't embarrass Al even more.

He'll be nice enough to pop it out from over his face shortly thereafter and make sure it's snug around him before stepping back with a big ol' smile. ] Well, at least Kunsel's got you covered on that.

[ And he does, too, technically. But after Kunsel's little tutorial, at least anyone who was paying attention would be able to open up those cans without a can opener now. Zack pauses thoughtfully before he starts to peel off his coat. There's a flannel shirt underneath it- and then his beaten uniform underneath that. Plus he's got meat on him. He can deal.

Which is why that's going on Al next. ] Anything else you wanna eat that'd be around here?

[Al is actually a little sad that his first genuine taste of food will be some sludge from a can, but it will probably taste like a gourmet meal to him all the same by the simple virtue of it having a taste.

He starts to chuckle, but it's cut off pretty quickly when Zack starts peeling off his own coat. Al holds up a hand to forestall him, though it's swamped for a moment in the sleeve of this bathrobe.]

Hey, what are you doing?

[His body might be fragile now, but there's definite fire in his eyes that says his spirit is as strong as ever.]

That's your coat, you better not be thinking of giving it to me.

[ For real- yeah, it wouldn't be his first choice either. Like having a ration bar. Hell, those tasted like sawdust. But they can't really complain too much about the food they can get a hold of there, can there? And better that Al can eat something and taste it, period, again than not at all.

But... welp. There's the protest he was expecting. He can respect and highly appreciate the look in Al's eyes. He'd rather see that kind of spirit in them. But.

He shrugs, voice frank. ] They always said I never think first, so no. I'm not thinking of it, technically. Now, doing, on the other hand... [ He just hella grins. Al, you refuse him and he's just going to drape it over you anyway for the record. ]

[Al crosses his arms in front of his chest, a gesture that might look a lot stronger and more intimidating if the fashion impaired bathrobe didn't swamp him so completely.]

I mean it, Zack! Don't put that on me, I won't take your coat away from you.

[Don't make him do something drastic, Fair. Like SCOWL.]

[ PLEASE. Your scowling could use some work, kid. He used to be stared down by Sephiroth. This is child's play.

Which is why he just rolls his eyes at Al although the smile starts to fall. ] Whatcha gonna do if I do? Frown me to death? [ Okay, that was kinda mean and he doesn't want the kid to feel anymore useless than he already must feel... but... yeah. ]

Edited 2015-09-01 23:24 (UTC)

[He knows Zack is only trying to help, which is why he keeps his voice gentle, but that frown only deepens a little bit.]

I'm not totally helpless, and I won't be responsible for you travelling without a proper coat. If something happened to you because of the cold it would be my fault.

Naaah. If something happened to me, it would be because I did something stupid.

[ Seriously, this is his choice, Al. His. Which mean it will still be his fault. Not yours. That is Zack logic anyway.

So, he's going to... ignore any other protests at this point. Yep. Instead, he's going to go into his bag again and this time, he's going to rummage more through his back. Admittedly, his might have been eyeing his gloves as well, but with those long nails of Al's, until he finds a way to clip them, that's not gonna fly. That and he thinks he's pressed enough of his luck for the day.

At least in that sense. Now, in another sense... ] Ah-hah! [ Yank. Out comes his searching hand and with it, some... small package in foil wrapping. The grin he gives Al is almost shit-eating as he waggles it in front of the kid. ] Have something like this on your list? [ ...Yeah, he might have avoided any kind of teasing about that list (because he gets it, really. A good way to be hopeful!!) But! It doesn't mean he wasn't thinking about it more.

GUESS WHAT IT IS, AL. GUESS. ]

[He sighs as he feels the coat draped around his shoulders, but Zack is a fool if he thinks that Al will be that easily diverted. He may not say anything right now, but he will wait and sneak it back over his friend when night falls.

For now he allows his attention to be taken by the foil-wrapped food.

Food.

He is suddenly acutely aware of the hollowness beneath his ribs, and the way that his stomach is literally concave. He knows that logically he probably shouldn't eat anything, his system won't be able to cope with solids right away, but there's a longing in his eyes that's so strong as to be painful.]

What is it?

Edited 2015-09-01 23:49 (UTC)

[ Oh, he knows stubbornness... because that is what he is made of. We'll see who's truly the fool in all of this!! ~~Coat War I!!~~

But oh, yes. Oh yes, Al. Look at it. SAVOR IT.

...Yeah, he's probably going to puke it out, but if he's okay with that fate.... Then Zack's... stupidly okay with it, too. The kid's not eaten anything amazing in ages.

What better way to introduce him back to one of life's simple pleasures than... ]

Oh, not much. Just some chocolate I picked up. It's not the best, but...

[ He's already starting to peel back the wrapper. It's already been opened. He's been slowly savoring it throughout the last month, offering it in tiny bits between friends... Not around Al though. He caught on soon enough how much that might have been kinda... a dick move to do, even if Al never complained. But... Now's definitely a good time to bring up this particular snack. ]

[Bring it on, Coat War I victory will belong to the Amestrian!

His eyes get even bigger when he sees that distinctive hue and catches the scent of cocoa. It's strange... even though it's been years since he last smelled chocolate, he recognises it immediately. It's so distinct, and it definitely gets his mouth watering.]

Wow!

[He leans forwards to get a closer look.]

I can't believe you haven't eaten it all by now, you must have an even stronger will than Brother.

[He's mostly joking, nobody has a stronger will than Ed, but there is a kernel of truth in there. If he found such a delectable and rare treat, he sure as hell would have eaten it by now.]

[ THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK, MAN. CLEARLY, YOU'VE NEVER DEALT WITH A BACKWATER GONGAGAN.

But the excitement in Al's voice is more than enough to get him to start hella grinning, all teeth, once more- even as he claims indignantly: ]

Hey! Believe it or not, I can have some self-control- Sometimes! [ Really, if he didn't have self-control, he would have hurt Al only moments ago. All the same, he pops off a little piece and holds it out. ] Up to you.

[ He knows this might be a very fucking bad idea. But... retrospect didn't really hit until he'd already peeled it out of his pack and he would'a felt like too much of a dick not to offer it. That and a part of him's hoping if they're just careful that maybe they'll get lucky... ]

[He can almost taste that chocolate even before it gets into his mouth, but even so he hesitates on taking it. He knows it's a bad idea too, he knows that he should start with simple things, but... on the other hand, this is a place where you have to take every piece of nourishment that you can.

So he does take it. Slowly, he lifts it up to his nose and just inhales the aroma of it, rich and warm and sticky, letting that fill his senses before he even thinks of tasting it. The anticipation is unbearable by the time he does pop it into his mouth, and surely the look on his face has to be comical.

His eyes are so wide, shining with genuine tears and amazement, and his expression is a mask of wonder. He's clearly overwhelmed, and all just from a small piece of chocolate.]

[ Without context, for real? It... had to be the most ridiculous reaction to a tiny piece of chocolate.

But that's without context.

With it?

...Well, there's the underlying well, fuck, I hope this ends well. ...But. There's also just this... real moment. Where all over again, there's that reminder of just how much Al lost that he's finally experiencing all over again after so, so long. And it really does warm him to be his audience in this. To see him be so happy despite all the trials Zack knows he's going to be in for from therein. Especially in snow hell.

So, he sits there and watches with his head now tilted and resting on his hand, that hand with the rest of arm balancing with an elbow on his knee. He knows better now to clear his throat when he speaks. ] So? [ Like he couldn't tell what Al thought... ]

[He feels the cloying thickness stick to the roof of his mouth and then slide down his throat, and it's the most perfect sensation in the world. He hopes that he never gets too used to it that he can't appreciate the wonder of just being able to eat again.

He grins at Zack's question, displaying teeth that are now spotted with a light coating of chocolate in a not at all attractive fashion.]

It's delicious! I'm glad I forgot how good it was, or I'd never have been able to cope without it.

[He chuckles to show that's a joke. Mostly. Probably.]

[ There's something in Zack's smile that wavers for a moment when Al addresses things like that. But in the end, he just chuckles and shakes his head. Sheesh, it's still weird to see him as an actual kid with a messy smile. But it's definitely not a bad thing to see. No, not at all. He makes a mental note to stuff that bar in Al's pack when he's not looking. Bad enough they'll be having Coat Wars so openly. Maybe this he can be more subtle with...

Softly, he prods: ] And that's only the start, yeah? Heh, maybe we'll get lucky and find another house with a fireplace soon. Get you some good eats!

...Here.

[Al bends down to the side of the sofa and struggles to lift his pack up onto his lap. It's so surreal to him to struggle with something like this, when yesterday he had been able to lift it with barely any effort at all.

He fishes around inside for a few moments before pulling out a tattered notebook, which he hands over to Zack. Inside are lists upon lists of food and drink items, with the ink faded enough near the beginning to show that it was begun long ago, and the pages worn enough to show how often it had been read by wistful eyes.]

See? Chocolate was on there, right near the top. Just under Granny's apple pie and Miss Gracia's quiche.

Edited 2015-09-03 16:36 (UTC)

[ Zack starts when Al goes for his pack, but in the end, the kid manages and he relaxes and sits back on his knees, watching him patiently. In a few moments, there's a notebook being handed off to him and the ex-SOLDIER at first just glances at it with a tilt of his head. He's not really used to getting dibs on people's secret journals or something and makes it a point not to go nosing around in business like that ~~unlike some bunkmate he knows~~.

But understanding he's more than got permission, he does finally gingerly flip to the first page. And there they are, just as he noted. Some of it's in older scrawl than others. Some of it's been moved down or up the list. And some of it's definitely been smudged and harder to discern. And it's a pattern that continues with torn pages here and there as he starts to page through the rest of its contents. The list goes on for a while before it finally peters off and Zack bows his head with closed eyes a moment.

When he's next opening them, it's so he can glance back to his own bag. Unzipping its front pocket, he pulls out a pen and offers it to Al. Then, he flips open the notebook and points to chocolate. ] Looks like you've got something to cross out now. [ He wishes he could somehow get a hold of his granny or let whoever "Miss Gracia" know about Al, too. But... this was still a start, right? ]

[Al can't help but lean in and watch the pages turn, though his expression is one of wistful happiness than of sadness or loss. He had a lot of happy memories keeping this list of things to eat - true, it may not have stemmed from a good situation, but to him it had been a symbol of hope. To write down things to eat one day, was as good as reaffirming that he believed it would happen one day.]

...I guess you're right.

[He takes the pen in slightly clumsy fingers, as he doesn't really have the dexterity for delicate movement yet, and puts a tentative line right through the word 'chocolate', giggling like a kid caught doing something naughty.]

That feels really weird, like I'm a vandal now.

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Snowblind Body Shenanigans

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