[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.

Comments

[truthinfortune]

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]

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]

"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]

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]

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]

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

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

[truthinfortune]

Naoto pulled a face and unceremoniously dropped the apple back into the bag, along with the others. "Apparently, not even alchemy can change that..." She bowed her head, looking a bit shamefaced. "I can't believe I wasted some of our hard earned money on bad apples..."

For the first time, Naoto was learning what it was like to live on a fixed income. There was no one to grant her an allowance if she needed extra cash; no reserves to draw on from the bank. None of her world's currency translated over here, either. She was used to living frugally in her apartment in Inaba, but there was never the fear of falling into poverty.

"Winry's going to be mad, isn't she?" And Naoto had been so eager to do the shopping, too, confident that her amazing intellect would enable her to haggle out the best deals. It always came as a hard blow whenever someone managed to deceive her.

[ironysoul]

Al couldn't help laughing more.

"We're not impoverished, Naoto. Winry and Granny do a lot of business and Brother has pension and his savings from the army. We'll be fine, even if you did got taken on the apples."

He smiled, squirming up in his bed and patting the space next to him, in case she wanted to come and sit.

"Just because you're with us doesn't mean the villagers aren't going to test you. Risembool doesn't like new people. It never ends up right."

[truthinfortune]

Naoto stood there for a moment before finally deciding to take the offered seat next to Al. She settled herself on the edge of the bed, hands clasped between her knees. She still couldn't bring herself to look at Al.

"And I thought I was fitting in so well, too." She sighed. "It's no different from when I first began working with the police department. Even though I dressed like an adult and spoke like an adult, it wasn't enough for them to accept me. They new me immediately for the outsider I was..."

Her normal mode of attire was strikingly similar to the mode of dress many Amestrians wore, albeit those from the larger cities. But looking the part of a native Amestrian wasn't enough to pass for one.

[ironysoul]

Al watched her worriedly, resting his cheek on his knees.

"It's not that, Naoto. You weren't born here. It's a small town, you know? Everyone knows everyone, and you look out for each other!"

[truthinfortune]

"Right, and I must look rather strange, what with the blue hair and all." She reached up and plucked at her bangs with two fingers. "Not many people from your world have hair this color, do they?" She huffed a laugh. "Now I think I understand how Ed must have felt when he first came to Inaba. No one had seen anyone with golden eyes before."

[ironysoul]

"Nope. You're definitely a rarity."

Al smiled at her. "Don't worry, Naoto! Once they get to know you, everyone will love you."

[truthinfortune]

Okay, she's going to blush a little at that. Unlike Ed, Al can be something of a sweet-talker. This will serve him well in the dating scene...

"You really think so...?" She peeked at Al from beneath her hat, offering him a small smile. "Because I don't want to have you all vouch for me. I want to prove myself to the rest of the villagers by pulling my own weight. That's why I'm going to work hard and do my part to help support this family."

[ironysoul]

"I know so! You're smart and talented. They'll come around."

Al had no idea he was sweet talking, he just thought he was being encouraging!

[truthinfortune]

"Perhaps I could try offering my services as a private investigator," she said. "Not that I think they will be a high demand for my services, but you never know. Sometimes livestock turn up missing. Even in a peaceful community like this, crime still exists."

In a perfect world, there would be no need for detectives. And though Amestris was now at peace, it was far from perfect.

"Anyway, I should go put these groceries away and start preparing lunch. Do you have any special requests?"

[ironysoul]

"I don't know, Naoto. People here are pretty private. They like to solve their own problems." Plus, when the livestock turned up missing, it was usually wildlife. "Just be yourself, and I'm sure people will love you. Really. Give it some time, okay?" If she was seen helping care for Al, helping Pinako and Winry with the heavy lifting, then eventually the townspeople would come around. Risembool was pretty lax in it's position about gender roles -- better than some in Amestris, at the very least -- but still, a girl who dressed and acted like a boy was going to encounter some skepticism at first. Especially an outsider.

At the mention of lunch, Al's mood swung low again, and he stared at what remained of his breakfast tray. "Why? I won't be able to eat it."