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]

"Um- um, maybe if you aren't busy," Al stammered, "We could go- we could go somewhere?"

[palewhiteand]

"Ah, sure!" Ruby cleared her throat and regained her composure. Al was supposed to be the one getting flustered, not her! "Anyplace you have in mind?"

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

"W-well, there's a village nearby and they have a, um, tea room and stuff," Al replied, his face bright red.

[palewhiteand]

"That sounds great!" Ruby nodded. "All right, you'll have to lead the way."

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Al stood and reached out to take her hand but drew it back quickly. He reached out again, hesitating slightly.

[palewhiteand]

Without making any motion to take Al's hand, Ruby headed for the door.

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Al frowned slightly and followed after her. "It's this way," he said quietly once they were out in the hall.

[palewhiteand]

"I haven't been outside of the castle yet," she commented, allowing him to lead the way. "So out there is... some other world, with no way to get back to ours, right?"

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Al nodded. "Yeah, apparently," he said as he headed for the nearest passage to Hogsmeade.

[palewhiteand]

"Wonderful." Ah well, she'd make the best of what she had. "It still sounds like a nice place. I mean, tea!"

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Al looked back over his shoulder and smiled at her. "Yeah, it's not bad," he said.

[palewhiteand]

Okay, Al smiling ranked pretty high on the list of things Ruby found absolutely adorable. "I'll get used to it."

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Al worked up his courage and reached out to grab Ruby's hand. "cmon, it's through here," he said, tugging her into the passageway.

[palewhiteand]

Grinning, Ruby took Al's hand. "All right. Ooh, a secret passageway~. How spooky."

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, it's kind of dark, so stay close," Al said as they walked.

[palewhiteand]

As if she needed an excuse to stay close to him. "Right. There aren't any secret turns or dropoffs or anything, are there?"

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

"Nope, don't worry," Al said, "Besides, I'd catch you if you fell, anyway."

[palewhiteand]

Fortunately, the flush was hidden by the darkness and the fact that she was behind him. "I don't know, you seem kind of scrawny."

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Al laughed. "I'm not brother. You can't make me mad by saying stuff like that."

[palewhiteand]

"Oh, drat." Ruby laughed in response. "Too bad."

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

Al blinked and looked away from the sunlight shining at the end of the tunnel. "Bright," he murmured, covering his eyes.

[palewhiteand]

Yay, sunlight. Ruby squinted. "So we're almost there?"

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, it's just over this hill," he said, his hand still holding hers.

[palewhiteand]

"Great!" She moved up to walk beside him, swinging their hands as she did so. "Ah-- it's not that expensive, is it? I only had a few sens in my pocket when I came here."

[fullsize-al.livejournal.com]

"O-oh, they don't take sens here," Al said softly, "You have to have wizard currency- don't worry, I have enough."