[000] Open Log: Month One

[ironysoul]

[Logs in this post may take place any time during the first month or so following the Promised Day. Al's symptoms will be extremely severe.



Al is most likely asleep.

If he's not asleep, he will be soon.

When he is awake he is very overloaded and hypersensitive to all sensory stimuli. This means:
- If anything touches his skin, he will be in extreme pain.
- Changes in the light/noise/scent levels will result in extreme pain.
- He's probably in pain, and therefore heavily medicated.

His medications will most likely make him... sleep.

He cannot tolerate any food or liquids well. If you attempt to feed him he will vomit.

Due to the severity of his condition, visitors will likely be restricted to family and those he requests to see. Visitation times will be short.

This log takes place in Risembool.]

Comments

[cyberelric.livejournal.com]

[Ed shall come and visit, he will be seated and remain seated, with a crummy IV in his arm, and three days is the soonest he'll be able to visit. Bandages visible around his head, patches on his cheeks, and his left arm is wrapped in a bandage as well.]

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

[Al wouldn't know if Ed were there or not -- as soon as they'd gotten out of the battle field he'd fallen asleep, and he'd only woken this morning. The pain -- he didn't want to think about. At least Granny had given him some drugs, and he knows where he is now. He's spent the day drifting in and out, barely conscious. But he stirrs when someone appears beside him.]

Brother... Brother! You're okay!

[cyberelric.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm fine.

[Lucky for him he still gets to have hospital scrubs mostly because it's easiest to look after him that way.]

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

You're not hurt?

[Confused Al is confused. He hasn't been holding on to much, but Granny told him Ed was hurt. He hung on to that.]

I thought you were hurt.

[cyberelric.livejournal.com]

Nah, Al, really I'm fine.

[hands4healing.livejournal.com]

[Winry has taken care of one Elric brother before, including all the icky things that taking care of patients entails.

She steps into the room, adjusting the curtains to make sure Al has light but not enough to bother his eyes.]

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

[Even that small change in light was enough to disturb Al. He blinked his eyes open, squinting and letting out a tiny whimper as he adjusted to the light.]

Brother? [He's been asking for Ed for a while.]

[hands4healing.livejournal.com]

[Winry turns to Al.]

He's sleeping, Al. [Finally. Though Winry thinks that it would be easier to have them both in one room.]

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

Okay.

[Al, at least, is fairly passive. He isn't fighting them like Ed undoubtedly is.]

What is it?

[hands4healing.livejournal.com]

What's what, honey? [Winry speaks softly to him.]

[hoboheim.livejournal.com]

[Hohenheim will sit quietly in the corner of the room, elbows on his knees, chin resting on his folded hands. The very figure of contemplation.

He still can't believe that Ed sacrificed his ability to use alchemy to bring Al back from the Gate. No... he can believe it. Those boys began their journey together as brothers, so it's only fitting that they finish it together. Even so, Hohenheim can't help thinking that it should have been him to make the sacrifice. To put things right as a father should. Ed's bought him a little more time, yes, but not much. Hohenheim knows that he's dying: he can feel his body breaking down little by little with each passing day...

Ah... But he is grateful for Ed's sacrifice, nonetheless. Without it, he wouldn't be sitting here right now at Al's side, ready and willing to do anything that might speed his youngest son's recovery.]

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

[Hey, papa -- Hohenheim far enough back from the bed that at first, Al didn't see him. He thought he was alone. So, as his body emerged from sleep, he drew in one and then two unsteady breaths before letting out a soft, pained whimper.

He didn't want to bother Winry, or upset her, and if he said anything Brother would freak out... but every nerve of his body felt like it was on fire, where the blankets and sheets scraped against hi skin.]

[hoboheim.livejournal.com]

[Stupid, hovering, useless father is GO!

Hohenheim stands and slowly approaches Al's bedside, smiling wearily. He looks worse for wear. There's a bandage on his cheek, which nicely conceals the transmutation marks where his skin started to flake away, during the fight...]

Hello, Alphonse. How are you feeling?

[Stupid question is stupid.]

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

[Darn... Caught.]

Dad? You're okay?

[He still doesn't know who made it through and in what condition... people have been telling him, he just can't hold on to details.]

[hoboheim.livejournal.com]

[His hand reflexively reaches up to brush the bandage on his cheek.]

Ah, it's just a flesh wound. Nothing too serious. [smile smile smile] I'm just a bit worn out, that's all. Activating the fail safe... it took a lot out of me!

[Yeah, it took up all of the souls within his Philosopher's Stone. Ed knows that, but even he's unaware just how serious Hohenheim's condition is... And he doesn't intend to tell his sons. Not right away, at least...]

[truthinfortune.livejournal.com]

[Miraculously, Naoto only suffered a few minor injuries during all the fighting. A bandage on her head and hands, that's all. She'll recover, soon enough.

Al's sleeping, of course, but it's for the best. Despite his emaciated form, she can't help but smile. He finally has his real body back. All those years of suffering and strife--it would be presumptuous to say that they've come to an end, for Al still has a long road ahead of him in terms of recovery--but it was all worth it. The brothers finally attained their goal.

Naoto has never felt more proud of those boys than she does now.]

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

[Have one sleepy-looking Al watching you, Naoto. When did he wake up? Impossible to say, but he hadn't lost the unnatural stealth he'd always possessed. If anything, it was more pronounced, now that the didn't have that loud, clanky body.]

Naoto?

[...She looks so much bigger now that he's seeing her with his own eyes...]

[truthinfortune.livejournal.com]

[She would preen forever if she heard Al say that...]

Yes, it's me. [Going to pull a chair up and sit beside you.] I apologize if I woke you. [Still smiling, though. She likes to talk to him, even if it's not for very long.]

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

[It's a matter of perspective... he's a lot smaller.]

'sok. Can't sleep long. [ALL HE DOES IS SLEEP, that is a total lie.]

[truthinfortune.livejournal.com]

[Naoto probably weighs more than Al, yes, but he's still got a few inches on her...]

Well, I'm glad I caught you while you were in a more active mood. [Soft laughter.] I enjoy our conversations, however short they may be.

[There is a rolled up newspaper sticking out of her coat pocket. From what little text is showing, it's definitely a copy one would find in Central.]

[huntedwitch.livejournal.com]

[after finally having worked up the courage to come visit, Eris will just be knocking quietly on the door]

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

[Al's actually awake, for once! Good timing, Eris!

He didn't know she was coming, though, and he wasn't expecting her -- otherwise he'd have tried to find some real clothes, instead of the too-big pajamas Winry had found for him. At least they, and he, were clean -- even if he was still skinny, he looked a lot better than he had before, with his hair brushed and braided.]

Come in.

[He'd finally managed to get the pillows arranged so they could prop up a book, since holding one was too tiring, and he just thinks it's Winry or Naoto, so he doesn't look up.]

[huntedwitch.livejournal.com]

Hey...

[she steps inside carefully, closing the door quietly]

Um. It's me.

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

[That voice isn't Win, or Naoto or Granny, or even Sensei or Elysia or Mei --

He squeaks, looking up and his eyes going wide. If he could, he'd duck under the covers to hide. As it is, he pushes himself more into a proper sit -- the most movement he's had in days.]

E-eris? [Even if he looks different, the voice is the same. Well, less echo-y.]

Hi...

[huntedwitch.livejournal.com]

[she offers a weak little smile]

Hi, Al.