4 Little Ducks Went Out One Day...

[watching_seven]

Who: Alphonse Elric and Maciel's Dragonlings- Saata, Aata, Haata and Kaata
What: It was supposed to be a trip to the market and back... :|a
When: Tuesday afternoon
Where: Around the city, likely not too far from the market area and city center
Warnings: G
Status: In Progress

Comments

[watching_seven]

     ~That's it. We should just go back. At least we know that much-~ Aata sighed, putting forth his suggestion, and fully expecting to be shot down by Saata. He was not disappointed. The wind dragonling shook his head vehemently. ~No way! It took long enough to convince Naata to let us go in the first place!~

As their two elders argued, Haata and Kaata looked back at each other worriedly, but then came another sound that drew their attention. Easily startled, Kaata immediately took cover behind Haata. ~Uwah! It's so big!~

Alphonse's question finally broke the argument between Saata and Aata, both of who gasped in surprise at the looming figure of metal. The voice gave them pause, however. Huh?



~L-lost? We're not lost! We were heading to the market!~ Saata proclaimed, although he took up a protective position between the walking suit of armor and the younger dragonlings. Aata was beside him, eying Alphonse nervously. He scowled at the pony-tailed child. ~Don't tell him that! Maciel said not to talk to strangers!~



~But then we can't talk to anyone around here!~



"....."

[armoredpenance]

Al blinked for a moment at the words that he was hearing but not hearing. Well, that was a little unexpected. But this city seemed to be full of those things.

Moving slowly, he crouched down to be a bit closer to their level. (This was kitten procedure 101 in action was what this was) "I'm sorry if I startled you. It's a good idea not to talk to strangers most of the time too. But my name is Al."

He paused before holding up his little list. "I'm headed to the market too. I have to buy milk for my brother, even though he says he won't drink it."

[watching_seven]

     They tensed as Alphonse moved, but to their credit, remained standing where they were as the hulking mountain of metal stooped down, although he was still rather tall. Haata tilted his head, then beamed.



~He told us his name! That makes him not a stranger anymore, right?~ Saata and Aata looked at him, but they couldn't really fault that logic. This seemed to be enough to convince and subsequently coax Kaata out of hiding. He peered out from around the others.



~Um....it's nice to meet you Mister Al!~

Saata piced up his cue, tossing the stick aside as he launched right into introductions. ~I'm Saata, and that's Kaata, and Haata.~ He pointed to the blond and the redhead respectively. ~Ah! And that's Aata.~

The little earth dragon made a face, but at this point what grasp of control had slipped quickly through his fingers. There was nothing else to do but give a polite nod. Well, at least he didn't seem like a bad person. Aata lightened up a bit at the mentioning of the market. ~Eh, but why buy him milk if he won't drink it? ....um...but do you know which way the market is, Mister Al?~

[armoredpenance]

"Ah, that's right. We can't be strangers if we're introduced. It's nice to meet you all too!" He tilted his head to the side slightly, giving what passed for a smile on the rather impassive metal face. "All your names match. Are you all brothers?" Looking at each, he laughed a little. "Well,I'm getting it because it's good for him. I'm going to make stew with it, so he won't even know he's having it. It was how mom used to get him to drink it, when we were little."

He glanced towards his left then. "The market's this way. Why don't we walk together? That way I won't get lost and neither will you."

[watching_seven]

     ~Hee hee! Well, kind of? We've all been together since we've been born, so we're as good as brothers!~ Saata thought this made perfect sense. ~And Maciel named us all and takes care of us, so of course our names match!~

The little ones giggled in amusement at such a sneaky way to get someone to drink milk. ~It must be a very good stew! I wonder how it tastes?~ wondered Haata. Kaata nodded. ~Does Maciel use milk in our stew? Maybe he can try it!~ Ah, but that would require groceries, which was what they needed to get.

Aata looked at Alphonse, and then in the direction pointed out. After a moment's consideration, he nodded. ~All right. That sounds like a good idea.~ With his voiced approval, both Haata and Kaata cheered, always happy to make new friends, and this way, they'd all get to be together a little longer.

[armoredpenance]

It made sense to Alphonse, and he nodded cheerfully enough. "Maciel? Is he here in the city with you?" Al hoped he was. If he was the one who took care of them... they were far too young to be really on their own. It was bad enough when he and Ed had had too, but they were older then than this little foursome.

"It's a really good stew. Or it was when mom made it. I don't really know if I make it as well as she did." In large part because he can't taste it.

He nodded though. "I think so too." He straightened up to his full height then. Starting off, he kept his steps slow so the kids could keep up. "What do you need to get?"

[watching_seven]

     Exchanging glances at that, the dragonlings nodded, a bit more solemnly than earlier.

~Mm, he's here with us. He's at the house we're staying at because he's resting. Naata, Maata and Taata are with him~ Aata explained. They had all started to fall in step with Alphonse, a strange little group to see.

In hindsight Aata realized they hadn't made a list, really, but it was easy enough getting the things they knew they usually had. ~The usual things! Vegetables and fruits, bread and milk...~ He looked to the others to see if they remembered anything else.

Kaata couldn't help but keep staring at the large suit of armor that walked alongside of them, his mind far from grocery shopping at the moment. Finally, he had to ask. ~Why do you wear all that? Isn't it heavy?~

[armoredpenance]

Alphonse nodded a little at that. Well, it was good then, that they weren't here alone. He looked a little unsure at the mention of resting. Was he not well? Hmm.

"That's easy then!" The suit of armor glanced over at the little gaggle of kids walking with him. At the question he laughed though. "Ah, it's not really heavy. I guess I'm kind of used to it. I wear it all the time."

He wasn't really one to broadcast his situation, but above all he was fairly sure that informing them that he was an empty, walking, talking giant suit of armor might scare them. So maybe it was best to save that secret for another day.

"Speaking of heavy, are you going to be able to carry all the things you're going to get? You know, I bet I could make something to help!"

[watching_seven]

     They'd never seen anyone wearing armor like that before. The closest thing would have been in pictures in storybooks. Alphonse's secret probably wouldn't scare them at all. Back home they had two ghosts living in their basement, after all, and they were all good friends!

For now, the explanation sufficed. Were Naata present, he would have certainly been more suspicious. These four had no problems accepting what Alphonse said.

To the question asked, Saata waved a hand dismissively. ~No problem! Aata can carry it all!~

Aata looked at the other, not quite frowning. ~Hey, you guys should at least help too!~ Weight wasn't an issue for an earth dragon, but if the others were going to slack off...

[armoredpenance]

Al couldn't help but laugh at that. They were a lively bunch, really. It was endearing, really. "Oh? But I guess that must make you pretty strong though." Another laugh. "I usually wind up carrying thing for my brother too." Up to and including said aforementioned brother. But Al has never minded.

"But even so, maybe I can show you something once we get to the market that might make it easier."

Speaking of the market, Alphonse was pretty sure this was it ahead and he trotted ahead to hold the door for the little group.

[watching_seven]

     Aata could probably carry Alphonse, which would be an amusing sight to see. Strength wasn't so much the matter in question as the ability to manipulate weight. Unlike Saata however, Aata wasn't a show-off.

All four of the dragonlings looked interested in what Alphonse said, wondering what he could mean. And now that they had arrived at the market (~See! I told you it was this way!~ ~No you didn't- you almost had us going the other direction!~)- they'd get to see soon enough, hopefully!

They all filed in, relieved to have made it to their destination. This part should be easy, now! Saata appointed each of the others to go gather a certain thing, and they all ran off. How lost could you get in a market?

[armoredpenance]

Alphonse shook his head just slightly as the dragonlings divided and conquered. For his part, he looked to his list again and glanced around. All right. This shouldn't take too long. As covertly as possible, he opened the chest plate on his armor to pull out the large fabric bag he'd brought with him. He closed himself up and began finding the things for his list -- including the dreaded milk. That one was going to have to be better hidden.

Once he had gotten the thoroughly appalling amount of snacks for his brother, he turned his attention to actual food. He finished his list rather quickly.

And since he had said he'd come up with something to make their trip back easier, he began amassing a little pile of things -- mostly pieces of some of the empty produce crates, a few pieces of metal from a separate shelf,a rather large bucket.

[watching_seven]

     Considering that one of the items on their list had been milk, it might have struck Alphonse as strange that no one was down that aisle when he'd gone for it himself. Or perhaps they'd already gotten it by then!

It became a little more obvious as to what happened once the children reconvene near the door, Saata with a basket of fruits, Aata with another of some select vegetables, and Kaata with a loaf of bread. Hmmm. Someone was missing.

"........"

[armoredpenance]

Alphonse glanced up when he noticed the group regathering, though he paused for a moment, blinking. "Ah... someone's missing." Al looked around a bit.

"Should we look for him?" ...how did someone get lost in a grocery market? Then again, they were just little. Maybe he found the candy aisle. Hmm.

He stepped away from his little pile of things before peering down the nearest aisle.

[watching_seven]

     ~I'll help! Aata, Kaata- stay here!~ Saata volunteered, plunking the basket down by Aata and taking off after Alphonse before anyone could argue.

Sadly it wasn't distraction that was to be faulted for Haata's absence. It was a wonder just how directionally challenged fire dragons could be. Sadly enough, their sorcerer back home was no better. At the moment Haata found himself staring up at the canned foods section, which he was pretty sure he had passed two minutes ago.

[armoredpenance]

The problem with finding something small in a big place, was that well, the obvious. But Alphonse had height to his advantage in this, and that perspective let him see over most of the shelves. He glances down at the one following him -- Saata? Oh names. Alphonse was oing his best -- before turning a corner on the wayward shopper. "Ah! There you are!"

He paused for a moment before holding out a hand. "Why don't we find what you're looking for and get it in the pile with the rest?"