Owl!

[palewhiteand]

Ruby had sent out an owl to Alphonse, after several attempts that had wound up with her fingers getting repeatedly pecked.


Dear Alphonse,

Can we meet and talk somewhere? There's something I think I need to clear up for you.

-Ruby

Comments

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

The letter that Alphonse sends back looks as though it's been erased and rewritten several times over.

Dear Ruby,

Okay Sure Of course we can. Where do you want to meet?

-Alphonse

[palewhiteand]

Dear Al,

I was thinking maybe outside Ravenclaw's common room? I'm still learning my way around this place, and I don't want to get too lost trying to find you.

Ruby

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Ruby-

Sure, that sounds good. I can even let you into the common room.

-Alphonse

[palewhiteand]

A bit later, Ruby was standing outside the Ravenclaw common room, waiting for Al. While she waited, she flicked her wand around a bit, practising.

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Al peeked out of the common room door at Ruby, a shy grin on his face. "Er, hi," he said, pushing the door open farther, "You wanna come in?"

He had spent the better part of the morning preening in the mirror, making sure every strand of hair was in place and pissing off his brother by hogging the bathroom.

[palewhiteand]

Well, wasn't Al going to be disappointed. Kind of, anyway. "Sure. Is it allowed?"

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Al nodded and motioned for her to follow him. "Er, what is it that you wanted to clear up?"

[palewhiteand]

Ruby followed, and looked around at the common room once they were in. "Nice place." Then she coughed slightly; "Well, you know how I said I, um, was your girlfriend?"

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

"O-oh, I know you- well, we're from different worlds- well, versions of our world, anyway," Al said, looking at her sheepishly, "I know that we couldn't have been... Yeah."

[palewhiteand]

Couldn't have been what, she wondered. "Well, the thing is, that was kind of just a joke I pulled back home to annoy your brother. Didn't work so well here, unfortunately."

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Al laughed at that. "Well, if we'd actually met before, it might have worked. He's pretty protective of me."

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Al sighed softly. "But I think it hurts him to talk about it, too. He just gets this... look when he lets something slip about what happened then."

[palewhiteand]

Ruby sighed, as well. "It's fine to want to protect you, but... man. Has Winry ever talked about it?"

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Al shrugged. "She doesn't know everything that went on. I guess I could ask her, though."

[palewhiteand]

Ruby smirked, slightly. "Want me to beat it out of your brother?"

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

"That's okay," Al said, grinning slightly, "He'll tell me when he's ready. I don't want to hurt him."

[palewhiteand]

"All right. But tell me if you change your mind. It's been a while since I got to show him up."

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Al's grin grew wider at that. "I'll be sure to..."

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, they'll bring you nearly anything if you ask," he said. He pointed toward the village. "I think that's the tea house there."

[palewhiteand]

"Oh, it looks lovely." And going there with Al made it all the better.

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Al looked over at her shyly while they walked through the village. "So, um... umm," he stammered, trying to think of something to talk about.

[palewhiteand]

Ruby wanted to fluster Al some more, but she was intrigued by the village sights and couldn't help glancing around as they walked. "Yes?"

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

"O-oh, nothing, I was just- oh, we're here!"

[palewhiteand]

She looked up at the building. "It's so cute!" Saying so, she nudged Al's shoulder.

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

"Y-yeah, it is," Al said, giving her another bright smile.