trying out this art thing

[armoredboy]

Alphonse had a few books spread out across the pool table as well as the art set he'd been gifted with by whomever on January 7th. One was a book of prints of the works of Leonardo da Vinci. The others had some color wheels and a guide on light and shadow. He had a colored pencil behind his ear, and a sheet of the broad, white, heavy paper in

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[equalexchange]

"Aha, found you!" A heavy hand clamped down on Al's shoulder, and his brother's head peered closer at the spread on the pool table. "No offense Al, but I don't think the pool table is really made ...for..."

Upon closer inspection, Ed was... impressed. His little brother had always had a steadier hand when it came to drawing arrays. It hadn't been until his 17th birthday that he'd realized Al was good at drawing things besides arrays.

"Heeeey... these are pretty good!"

[armoredboy]

Al grinned brightly up at his brother.

"It's like math! It's easy, once you understand the principles of perspective, and then color and how to demonstrate the quality of light! I'm getting better, at least," he added.

[equalexchange]

Edward chuckled to himself. "My brother the artist, who'd have thought?" he said, half-joking. Leaning on the edge of the pool table, Ed picked up one of the sketches, and examined it with interest. He'd never exactly been a fan of art... but Al's drawings were on the verge of photographic, if not slightly off.

He paused. "You enjoying it?"

[armoredboy]

"Yeah!" Al said brightly, "it's not easy. It's really interesting, though." He set down a pastel, turning to look up at Ed.

"What have you been doing?"

[equalexchange]

Edward couldn't help but smile. He also couldn't help but reach over and ruffle his fingers through his brother's hair. "I'm glad."

And he drew his hand away before Al could protest too much. "Actually... I've been thinking. A lot."

Turning his back to the pool table, Edward leaned his elbows on the wooden surface. Al's sketch still held lightly in his metal fingers, he continued. "Ya know, as much as I hated last weekend, it got me to think outside the box. I met this guy named Calvin, who was stuck in your body at the time. And he asked me 'what do you miss most about home.'"

Edward paused, turning the paper over in his hand. He set it down on the table again, and pulled his watch from his pocket. He opened the case, stared at the inside where he'd scratched a personal message into the silver.

"And ya know... I couldn't think of anything that's there, that I don't already have here." he looked up with a bit of a sheepish smile. "Well, except Alchemy."

[armoredboy]

Al sat very still while his brother spoke, but by the end, he was smiling a little. It was good to hear- the lack of self-blame in Edward's tone, a distinct lack of hurt, as well, that had always seemed to be there when he spoke of being on the island.

"I'm really glad," he said, quietly. "I don't think we have to stop missing home, but... I think it's okay to be happy here."

[equalexchange]

Edward looked up at Al, still smiling. "And... maybe this is our second chance, ya know?" his voice was soft, thoughtful, even a bit philosophical. "An Equivalent Exchange -- we trade home, and alchemy, and the familiarity of it... but we get a new start. No military, no wars... no more innocent people dieing needlessly."

[armoredboy]

Al nodded, smiling back.

"And a family, of a kind, and friends. Things we couldn't have, really, but here it's okay. I think that's a fair trade."

[equalexchange]

Edward nodded slowly, and tucked his watch back into his pocket. "I'm just sorry it took me all this time and all that's happened so far to make me realize it," he admitted softly.

[armoredboy]

Al shook his head a little.

"You shouldn't be," he said decisively. "You wouldn't be you if you'd just accepted it, brother."

[equalexchange]

Edward sputtered indignantly. His cheeks turned an odd shade of infuriated pink, and his cheeks puffed up just a bit. "What does that mean?!" he cried.

[armoredboy]

Al laughed, but held up both hands, defensively.

"I just mean you don't let things go easily and when you're determined about something- especially something you're not supposed to be determined about- you can be really, um, dogged about it!"

[equalexchange]

"What, I wasn't supposed to be trying to make things right?" New revelations aside, the very idea was insulting.

[armoredboy]

"Of course you were!" Alphonse protested, "I just said that! You wouldn't be my brother if you didn't try regardless of how ridiculous the odds or circumstances are!"

[equalexchange]

"So now it was ridiculous," he snapped, crossing his arms over his chest. There was something just a little bit offended in his expression, and guarded in his posture.

[armoredboy]

Al stared at him.

"...finding ourselves stuck on a mysterious island with no alchemy, collared dinosaurs, and people from all over a bunch of different universes? ...Y....Yes? It's...fairly ridiculous?"