「neun ۞ video」

[transmutates]

[ From within the courtyard of Iki, Ed's reclining with an impressive selection of books stacked around him. Here and there are spare sheets of paper, pens, and a couple notebooks that appear to have several spots marked in each. One of these books (Smaller Chemical Analysis) is settled in his lap

Comments

action forever;

[alkahestry]

[That impressive stack of books is only about to get larger as Alphonse comes into the courtyard toting another stack of ten. Pieces of papers, notes no doubt, hang at random between the pages.]

Are you still out here, Brother?

[He asks as he attempts to peak over the top of his stack, which he's attempting to carefully balance in between his hands. By the time he gets close enough to notice the cat, he can't see it to well as he stands behind Edward with his arms full.

By the time he sets the stack down, all he can do is huff as he takes up a lean against the topmost scientific journal. The cat is noticed almost instantly now that he isn't so distracted.]

Ah -- a kitten! [Alphonse's eyes light up immediately as he inches up and behind Edward from behind. He bends, hands coming to rest on his knees as he looks down at the small animal.]

What are you doing here little guy?

[nobrassknuckles]

[Sakura's already in a bath by the time they arrive--she's nearer, after all--and looks pretty relaxed, all things considered, leaning back against the edge with a towel wrapped firmly around her, thank you very much. Hopefully this soak will remain relatively relaxing...]

[transmutates]

[ Cough, wouldn't want any repeats...

Anyway, they arrive soon enough, and after some time of instructing Al on how to wrap the towel around his waist and things like that, he leads Al to the enclosed pool. There, he raises a hand in greeting to Sakura. ]

Hey, you made it. Now you can meet my kid brother in person. [ To his brother: ] Al, you've already met Sakura, right?

[alkahestry]

[He's fairly easy to spot, considering he can hardly hide behind Edward. Alphonse waves just over Ed's head as he stands behind his brother.]

Well, we've spoken ... so technically, yes!

[Bright eyed and nothing but smiles, he gives Ed a little push. Why did he have to be called kid brother? He wasn't a kid anymore! Though to any trained eye one could tell that Alphonse's body was still recovering from his previous years of non-use.]

[nobrassknuckles]

It's nice to finally meet you in person. Ed talks about you a lot.

[Sakura isn't obvious about it, but she is observing Al, not to mention the dynamics between the brothers. She covers it up with a smile as she slides over a little to give them room to climb in the bath.]

[transmutates]

[ As soon as Sakura makes room, Ed eagerly sits at the edge, beginning to unsnap the harness for his arm as he looks back at Al. A mischievous grin lingers on his lips. ]

Yeah, I had to tell her how much of a brat you are. Hope you don't mind.

[alkahestry]

Hopefully nothing bad...

[Of course, Ed has to go and add in the last bit just as he's starting to inquire. A brat!? He makes a mental note to get his revenge on Ed later, when he least expects it. For now he'll let is slide, considering the he does not want Sakura's first real impression of him to be to see him do something Ed might. He slips into the water besides Ed and down until the water reaches his shoulders.]

Really, Sakura ... you shouldn't believe everything Brother says.

[nobrassknuckles]

You shouldn't either.

[Said as she (gently) punches Ed and gives him a pointed look. That's not what Sakura's heard about Al at all, and both of them know it.

Then, she turns to Al.] I hope you're settling in all right.

[transmutates]

H-Hey! [ Wobbles a bit as he's punched, the lack of right arm (now that he's taken it off), making him a bit off balanced. But he catches the pointed look and returns it with an obstinate look of his own. ] Watch it!

Al's doing fine. [ A glance over his shoulder towards Al, grinning. ] He's got his big brother to help him out.

[alkahestry]

As best as can be expected. It's different here ...

[He starts to explain and as is usually the case, Edward chimes up to answer for him. Alphonse does the polite thing and waits for his brother to finish before adding.]

Iki's a lot nicer than some of the other houses and it's library is the biggest I've ever seen!

[Books. He loves them.]

[nobrassknuckles]

[Al why so endearing.] I'm sure it is. I bet you haven't been to a communal bath before.

I don't spend much time anywhere in Iki other than the library, but it seems nice. [Thanks to certain individuals she has bad history with, but she won't go there.

Then, she looks to Ed, and there's nothing in her tone to indicate that what she's saying is anything other than innocuous advice, but...] You should get in before you fall in. [Yeah.]