The night had indeed been long, but as it hadn't devolved into utter disaster and the building was still standing, Al could almost count it as a success
( ... )
"Uweh . . ." Her face brightened considerably at the sight of him, though yes, she was tired -- it was readable in her face and in the way she leaned against the wall, slightly slumping. "Just a little tired, that's all. I think we'll all sleep really well tonight."
Because as Al had noted, they might well need the rest for Ed's wrath in the morning.
She accepted his hand, pulling herself upright with a soft rustle of skirts, leaving her comm on the bench. "You're okay too?"
"I'm fine. Are you sure you feel like doing this?" He expected a yes no matter how tired she was--Amelia was just that sort of person--but it didn't to hurt to ask.
Al remained close, finally getting a good look at her in full formal attire. Maybe it was due to the time period he hailed from or his strange expectations about princesses, but the dress she was wearing didn't strike him as unusual. It suited her, somehow. "You look really nice, by the way."
He felt a bit rude for not saying so earlier, but they hadn't really had an opportunity for casual conversation.
Pretending to be another person did tend to put a damper on conversation. It was nice to see him acting normally again; it was strange when someone you knew looked through you as though you were someone else. And even though she'd helped to dye his hair, it had thrown her off all evening; frequently she'd lost him in the crowd -- a feeling both comforting and discomforting in the same moment.
Normalcy for a few minutes was indeed nice.
"Really?" She looked pleased at that, pulling away enough to look down at herself. "It's close to what I'd wear at home. I got a few strange looks, but that's probably expected, isn't it? The dresses they wear here are pretty, but they're all really strange."
She adjusted her hand in his so that they were palm to palm, looping her fingers through his in preparation for a dancing position. "And of course I want to! I waited for it -- and you wanted it too, right?"
"Alphonse-san . . ." She kept hold to his hand even as he started to pull away, trying to keep his attention. "If you don't want to talk about it, or even don't want to talk about it now, it's okay, really. I mean it. It's a nice evening; I understand if you want to keep it that way. I'm sorry; I didn't know I was hitting something bad."
Al forced a small smile, gripping her hand a little tighter in an attempt to be reassuring. "You don't need to apologize. I understand why you asked; I was just surprised. This isn't something I've told anyone else here."
Knowing that the Iron Man who'd kidnapped them all to this place was also an empty suit of armor had only increased Al's reluctance. He didn't want to give people a reason to distrust him. But if anyone could understand, it would probably be Amelia, who had a friend at home in a similar situation. If he explained that he'd originally been human, she'd believe him.
"But are you sure you feel like hearing this tonight? I've already taken up a lot of your time."
Having someone like Amelia around was nearly as foreign as the dancing. Confessions of this magnitude were usually brought about by necessity, not someone simply wanting to listen. Al wasn't totally sure how to take it, but it was still a good feeling. Ed and Winry had always been there for him, and while he appreciated them both greatly, it was different to have an outsider's perspective. Amelia didn't have familial obligations or years of history with him to motivate her kindness.
"I can't honestly say that I want to, but I probably should. It's going to come out eventually, and I'd rather have you hear it from me than the homunculi."
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Because as Al had noted, they might well need the rest for Ed's wrath in the morning.
She accepted his hand, pulling herself upright with a soft rustle of skirts, leaving her comm on the bench. "You're okay too?"
Reply
Al remained close, finally getting a good look at her in full formal attire. Maybe it was due to the time period he hailed from or his strange expectations about princesses, but the dress she was wearing didn't strike him as unusual. It suited her, somehow. "You look really nice, by the way."
He felt a bit rude for not saying so earlier, but they hadn't really had an opportunity for casual conversation.
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Normalcy for a few minutes was indeed nice.
"Really?" She looked pleased at that, pulling away enough to look down at herself. "It's close to what I'd wear at home. I got a few strange looks, but that's probably expected, isn't it? The dresses they wear here are pretty, but they're all really strange."
She adjusted her hand in his so that they were palm to palm, looping her fingers through his in preparation for a dancing position. "And of course I want to! I waited for it -- and you wanted it too, right?"
Reply
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Knowing that the Iron Man who'd kidnapped them all to this place was also an empty suit of armor had only increased Al's reluctance. He didn't want to give people a reason to distrust him. But if anyone could understand, it would probably be Amelia, who had a friend at home in a similar situation. If he explained that he'd originally been human, she'd believe him.
"But are you sure you feel like hearing this tonight? I've already taken up a lot of your time."
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"I can't honestly say that I want to, but I probably should. It's going to come out eventually, and I'd rather have you hear it from me than the homunculi."
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