002 ☯ Alma [VIDEO]

[alma_karma]

[Alma looks to be sitting on the floor of his room, a small collection of books scattered over the floor around him.]

I know there's probably people I haven't talked to yet, so... hi! I'm Alma! [He rubs at the back of his neck awkwardly.] I was wondering if anybody had anything to draw with. Like paints! It's kinda dark in here and the walls are

Comments

[tothelastbreath]

I don't have any, but maybe we can find a pen or something lying around. How are you doing, by the way?

[tothelastbreath]

Erm... Yes. [BRIGHT SMILE] But it's okay, they're gone now!

[alma_karma]

B-But... you can't do anything when you're dead!

[tothelastbreath]

[sees that look and reaches towards the camera with a hand instinctively]

You're right. That's why they aren't supposed to exist, like akuma. I don't know how they got here, but there haven't been signs of them since then, so... Hopefully it'll stay that way.

[alma_karma]

... Do you think there'll ever be akuma here?

[tothelastbreath]

...Probably not. Even if they show up, Kanda and I will be around to handle it.

[alma_karma]

I wish I could help you.

[tothelastbreath]

You've been, though. It's been nice having you around, and I'm sure there're other things you can help with that don't involve fighting.

[alma_karma]

Really? [Is that a little bit of hero worship shining in his eyes? Just maybe.]

[tothelastbreath]

[Allen's usually good at recognising emotions -- sometimes even when they're masked --, but this is unfamiliar to him, because he's never once thought of himself as a hero. But hey, it looks shiny and kind of happy and generally positive, and honestly? That's good enough for him.]

Yes! [and then, teasing now] Besides, can you imagine if I didn't have you around to talk to? Kanda would just grunt at me all the time and we'd both forget how to talk in a month. [Sure, there're other people around, but still.]

[alma_karma]

[Dude, of course it's happy. SO HAPPY. Allen said he likes having him around! And even said it out loud! That's like... the best thing ever!

Alma laughs.] Sometimes he doesn't even grunt. You'd have to speak in grumpy faces!

[tothelastbreath]

[And he honestly does. Having Alma around keeps him grounded in a different way from Kanda's presence, and the way Alma does it is... much nicer.]

Alma, you have no idea. Do you know he's been glowering at me over the communicator? In silence?[The hand that's been hovering by the camera shoots up in emphasis upon the last word, because really, Kanda? Really.] Even when it's a video feed?

[alma_karma]

... But that's so silly!

[tothelastbreath]

Who knows, maybe he really thinks grumpy faces are a language. We'll just have to practice more to keep up with him.