Al has ISSUES.

[al_notfullmetal]

Al looks well and truly pathetic as he steps up to the apartment of his current favorite and closest to actual version of his brother. Days without sleep spent worrying and being a general mess are showing on his face. Even exhausted, Al manages to be thoughtful- he has a stack of books that he got for Alfons from the Nexus library several days

Comments

[superman_dead]

Edward is on his second cup of coffee by that time of the morning, and at his desk, working on a layout draft, ruler and pencil and various other drafting tools spread out over his paper and blueprints for apartments three and four pinned to the wall directly in front of him.

He looks up at the doorbell, glances at the clock and scrambles to answer the door; he's not sure if either of his mates are still sleeping (or if they're even in the apartment, really, he's been taking care to be quiet just in case and didn't look, lest he wake them), and he doesn't want them to wake form this if they are still in bed by chance.

When he opens the door, a smile warms his face. "Hey. Bit early to be out and about even for you, isn't it?" He moves to take some of the books (discoveries in the past 70 years in the general field of rocketry and space flight? that's a lot of books) for Al and let him in.

[al_notfullmetal]

Al had an interesting time shifting the books to a position where he could ring the doorbell, so he's quite appreciative of Edward's assitance. He was holding them all under one arm, several books threatening to escape his grip fairly soon. He gives a tired but grateful smile when Ed takes some of the books. When he steps in, he glances around to find a place to set the books, settling for the nearest table. Al = TIRED.

"I think Alfons will like those," he says sleepily, covering his mouth when a yawn slips out.

"...Early...? Is it really? It feels like it's been daylight forever."

Yeah, Ed, Al looks like the wrath o' god, just so yah know. :D

[superman_dead]

Edward's noticing how awful Al looks as he sets the books aside, and he's worried, watching his little brother with concern. "It's about nine. Aren't you usually still eating breakfast at this time..?"

His worried frown deepens. "Not sleeping well?"

[al_notfullmetal]

Al makes a face. Food? WHAT IS FOOD, ED? "I haven't eaten anything yet today, I wasn't really following the time."

His shoulders slump. Not sleeping well is putting it lightly.

"I haven't slept in a couple days," he mumbles.

[someday_to_you]

Alfons tilts his head, looking at Edward curiously. "Books?"

He finishes eating his roll and takes another sip of coffee before- gently, so not to wake Al -rising and going to where he can see books stacked on the table.

And stops.

And stares.

He starts lifting all the books, looking at their spines, eyes going wide. He flips the first one open, checks the date of publication, and gapes.

2000? That's a hell of a long time from 1923.

He start scanning pages, turning it over, eyes getting wider and wider with each page turn. Good lord, is he ever GRINNING. You know that look Al gets when he's got a new kitten in his arms? Alfons is getting that delighted, starry-eyed, gleeful look right now.

[superman_dead]

Edward grins as he watches Alfons flip through the books. "Oh, yeah, that reminds me. There's a place over in America I thought you might like. That is, if you wanted to see the command module of the first manned mission to the moon." A pause. "Among other things."

[someday_to_you]

.....

*_*

"Really?"

[superman_dead]

The grin widens, and he has to smother a laugh before it escapes and wakes up Al. "Really."