[000] Open Log: Month 2

[ironysoul]

[Al is growing stronger and more alert. He is awake for long periods of time and can receive more visitors.



Al is still recovering from the sensory deprivation of the years before and moderate to intense sensory stimulation will still cause extreme pain. He is still on pain medications, and is may have better or worse days in this regard.

He still cannot tolerate solid foods though he is doing better with hydration. It's still 50/50 if you want to try feeding him.

He is now able to sit with assistance and can lean against pillows to converse.

When he is awake, his mood may fluctuate. He is prone to depressive episodes and periods of heightened anxiety.

This log takes place in Risembool. Visitation times may vary. However...

Due to increased visitation, his suppressed immune system, and the limited capabilities of Amestris's medical technology, Al will have a major setback toward the end of his second month of recovery. He will experience a major systemic infection (most likely brought about by a germ he picked up from a guest) as well as possibly suffering from a systemic collapse and/or a major coronary event, brought about by the many strains on his body outlined here. Due to the severity of his condition, he will be put into a medical coma and hospitalized in Inaba, where the technology is much more advanced.]

Comments

Sorry if I do this wrong, is my first world hop!

[makewayforroze.livejournal.com]

When Roze comes to the door, she's not empty handed. Between her hands, clasped in front of her, is a bag. She looks a little older than their Roze, a young adult, though she still smiles kindly.

One hand leaves the handles to knock on the door lightly, testing. If Al was asleep, she didn't want to wake him.]

Al? It's Roze, are you awake?

Looks great to me!

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

[Al isn't asleep, but he's not really awake either. He's just staring at the ceiling, trying to control his thoughts and the pain in his body.]

...Roze?

[He pushes himself up against the pillows, smiling brightly.] Hi!

^_^

[makewayforroze.livejournal.com]

[Her smile widens as she comes into the room, her eyes looking him over, checking to make sure he didn't look too weak for visitors. Seeing him on video isn't quiet the same as seeing him in person and for a minute, she says nothing. Though there were some differences in their looks, it still looks so much like her Al. It had been so long.]

Hi. [Though soft, her voice is loud enough to be heard.] You're looking much better. How do you feel?

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

Great!

[That's not strictly the truth, but Al doesn't want her feeling bad. Now that he's conscious for longer periods, he's trying to hide some of the severity of his symptoms.]

I'm so glad you came.

[makewayforroze.livejournal.com]

I'm happy to hear that! I've been worried.

[She moves closer to the bed, stopping to raise the bag and look inside, one hand digging around inside.]

I thought you would get restless so I brought a few things.

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

Sorry. I didn't mean to worry you. But that was really nice of you!

[makewayforroze.livejournal.com]

It's not your fault. It looks like you're taking care of yourself so I'm glad.

[When her hand comes back out, she's holding a couple of books, the covers appearing to hint at something adventurous. In between the pages of the top, there was a bookmark, a grinning kitten clearly printed out.]

[material_guy]

Work kept him busy... or, that is, he worked to keep himself busy. The only times he couldn't keep himself busy were times when everybody else was busy. Coincidentally, he could order his crew to become unbusy, or more busy with tending to him, but a Nice Guy at least recognized the need for sleep in other beings. It was that or consider the potential that he was boring company when they constantly yawned or started nodding off.

His company and crews tended to be awake until two or three. Between two and four, the computer could keep him entertained. By Four thirty, he was doomed to be bored.

By five in the morning, he was in Al's room. Much as he may have appreciated others needs for sleep, that really only applied to those whose full time jobs were for his benefit. Alphonse Elric slept or laid around most of the time, being an invalid. He, Greed was certain, was naturally at the mercy of Greed's whims.

The Homunculus declared Al's sleep time over by plopping a magazine in black shrink wrap on top of his sleeping face.

"Morning."

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

Obviously, Greed didn't understand over-sensitivity at all. Al woke up screaming, partially in terror, partially from the shock of being hit with anything. His entire body seized up, his fingers digging into the mattress as he thrashed against the covers, crying out with shock and pain.

[material_guy]

"Geh!"

The man who did not understand over-sensitivity did understand that when someone screamed like that, it tended to draw attention. He stepped away with both hands raised to show his innocence; he had genuinely not even touched him! Only once the screams died down to a respectable level did he half lower his hands, taking another step back just in case.

"Save you from a bad nightmare?"

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

Al managed to turn over, the magazine sliding from his face. He only quieted because he curled up into a ball, sobbing quietly. Whether he'd touched him or not, that had hurt and he still couldn't fully process what had been done to him.

"Mr. Greed! W-why did you hit me?"

[material_guy]

Not a hand on anyone, or even ten words out of his mouth and already he had someone curled up in a fetal position sobbing. That had to be some kind of new record, even for him. Reaching over the bed as if afraid of disturbing a crime scene, he plucked the magazine from where it slid onto the pillow, relocating it to the bedside table: with that, all immediate proof of his assault was cleared. Now to use his silver tongue to get out of this: "I didn't hit anything!"

Hardly the most eloquent declaration of innocence, and it sounded more defensive than convincing, but his history of honesty had to be worth something. He hadn't hit anything. He really hadn't. Gravity was more the culprit than he was. So, there.

With another glance to the shrink wrapped magazine, he found himself wondering what kind of bonuses were in there. It felt like the normal weight, but...

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

Slowly, Al calmed himself done, his breathing still rushed and unsteady as he peered up at Al. Poor Greed... obviously no one had really briefed him on Al's condition... no surprise, since he showed up in the middle of the night.

"My nerves are overstimulated. Things touching me hurts."

[truthinfortune.livejournal.com]

Naoto had been adjusting quite well to life in a rural farming community. Even the puppies (who were no longer quite so little, and were well on their way to becoming dogs) were adjusting to their new life with ease. The two corgis and the shepard mix spent most of the time herding chickens and geese, while the landseer laid up around the house, content to keep an eye on the comings and goings. The shiba inu could be a bit of a nuisance and loved poking her nose into everything.

The petite detective had just returned from the market, having acquired some fresh milk and cheese, and various fruits and vegetables for lunch that afternoon. She peeked her head into Al's room, arms laden with the grocery bags.

"I'm back!" she called, and pushed her way inside. Checkers (the landseer) lifted his head from his paws and wagged his tail before settling back to sleep again. "You won't believe the amazing deal I got on these apples. On sale, two for one!"

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

Poor Checkers was not allowed into Al's room, because the doctor was worried about irritating his respiratory system. So he lay just beyond the door.

Al blinked, looking up at her. "Apples aren't in season, you know," he murmured sleepily. Silly Naoto. But he was glad she was happy.

"How are the puppies? Has anyone gotten nipped by a goose yet?"

[truthinfortune.livejournal.com]

"But these are," Naoto said as she set the bags down on the floor. She pulled one of the apples from the bag and held it out to Al. It was a perfectly shiny red apple, and it looked absolutely scrumptious. "The man who sold them to me claimed he was an alchemist who specializes in botany. I guess he's able to grow apples out of season because of that."

Naoto herself never heard of such alchemy, but the apples looked edible, and the deal was too good to pass up. Besides, how was using alchemy any different from using growth hormones to enhance crops?

"Gin and Rummy have gotten rather adept at dodging the geese," Naoto said, grinning. The welsh corgis were small and quick, and were natural herders. "But poor Poker is still learning the ropes. Shogi keeps trying to eat the chickens, so I have to keep her inside most of the time."

Shiba inus possessed a strong prey drive, and Naoto really didn't want Shogi to get in trouble with the neighbors...

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

What neighbors? They were the only house for miles, ever since Al and Ed had burned down theirs. But they still owned that land, so no one could build a homestead there. They were going to have to talk to Naoto... Al didn't think she was as as adapted to Risembool as she thought.

"They look really beautiful," he agreed, eyeing one wistfully. One of the biggest pleasures of having his body back was supposed to be eating.

[truthinfortune.livejournal.com]

The Japanese people were instilled with a strong sense of community. Neighbors were neighbors, even if the nearest house was miles away...

Maybe Al was right. Naoto was certainly intelligent, but it was going to take some time before she truly adjusted to Amestrian culture. Especially Risembool's culture.

"How about I make some apple sauce for you? It should be mild enough for you to eat, I think."

She rubbed the apple on the sleeve of her shirt and bit into it with relish. But her expression quickly soured, lips puckering, as if she'd bitten into a lemon. "On second thought, maybe not..." Naoto fixed the apple with an accusing stare. "I can see why these apples came so cheaply. They're as sour as crab apples!"

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

Al couldn't help it. He started giggling, watching Naoto from under the covers.

"I tried to warn you! Apples aren't in season!"

[merlinastrice.livejournal.com]

[And in a small whirlwind, Merlin will just literally drop in on Al]

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

[Al almost jumps out of his skin, but he grins when he realizes who it is.]

Merlin? Really?

[merlinastrice.livejournal.com]

[He grins at him] Been practicing. At least I'm not appearing in the sky anymore?

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

[al can't help but grin back.]

That looked great!

Is it... safe, though, for you to do that? I mean, practice? Because of how things are at home.

[merlinastrice.livejournal.com]

Well...it was rather late when I did it so... [He gives him a hug] How have you been?

[ironysoul.livejournal.com]

[Al is too weak to really return the head, and he hopes that Merlin doesn't hug to hard. His skin is still awfully sensitive, although he loves getting hugs.]

Okay, I guess.