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!"
Just be yourself... Souji had taught her that lesson long ago, but it seemed she could use a refresher course. Patience wasn't always one of her better virtues, but in this situation, what else could she do? She just had to believe that her hard work would eventually be recognized...
Naoto's gaze also fell to the breakfast tray with the half-eaten bowl of porridge. She pursed her lips. "I'd like you to try, anyway, if you feel up to it. Even if it's only a few bites. I don't mind going through the effort of cooking, just as long as you try to eat a little of it."
For Naoto, of course Al would try. He didn't even add hat he hoped she left the bucket nearby, because even the simplest of solid foods were a battle to get down. They tasted amazing -- but one physical sensation he was really learning to hate was vomiting.
The Throw-up Bucket was a constant companion for poor Alphonse, except when it was being washed out, which was at least once a day, if not more. Naoto could certainly sympathize with his situation. She had once caught a severe flu, and could barely keep anything down for three days straight. But that was nothing compared to what Al was dealing with right now.
"I was thinking about making soup and sandwiches for everyone," she said. "Do you think you could eat a little soup? I can pick out any of the bits you don't like, or don't think you can eat."
And with that, Naoto picked up the bags of groceries and disappeared into the kitchen. Before long, the sounds of whistling could be heard emanating from the kitchen, along with the savory smell of beef. Checkers, who had been lounging outside the door to Al's room, lifted his nose into the air and began drooling.
"No, no," Naoto said, stepping over him. She was carrying a tray in both hands with a single bowl of soup, and the dog whimpered at being so close to the source of that delicious smell. "This isn't for you. You'll have to wait for dinner, okay?"
Checkers laid his head atop his paws once more. He made a noise that sounded suspiciously like an annoyed grunt.
"Here you go," Naoto said, sitting on the edge of the bed, and showing Al the fruits of her labor. "I hope you like it."
It was pretty typical country fare. Thick beef broth filled with choice pieces of meat, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and onions.
He knew it should be wonderful, and he did his best to keep his expression bright as long as she was in the room. It should be wonderful, but the smell made his stomach roll and he knew that the taste would set his mouth on fire, and chewing -- even the physical action of chewing and swallowing stimulated his gag reflex so badly that he was lucky if even one bite made it to his stomach. He just wanted to eat, and he didn't want his sister to know how miserable it made him that he couldn't.
Sorry, Al, but fortune is not on your side today. She sits there, watching him eat with an expression that wavers between pleasure and pain. She tries not to show her disappointment--it's entirely unrealistic to expect Al to be able to eat solid foods without difficulties, even soup--but the subtle shifting of her eyebrows betrays her thoughts.
"It's okay, don't force yourself. Really. I don't want you to become ill..."
"If you don't want to eat the meat or vegetables, that's fine. That just means there will be more for the others. I'm sure Ed would enjoy the extra portions." She smiled, hoping a little humor would be enough to lighten the mood. "The broth should have enough protein content for your needs, anyway."
"Thanks, Naoto." He sipped the broth carefully, his eyes down so that she wouldn't see that they'd filled with tears. This was the worst part of getting his body back. All the things he'd wanted to do-- everything he'd wanted to share with his family -- it all hurt too much.
"Don't mention it," she said. "You know I can't just sit idly, doing nothing. Being useful to others makes me happy."
She turned her gaze toward the window, and therefore did not notice the tears that Al was so desperately trying to hide. A few birds twittered on the sill just outside.
"I know you're excited about getting well, so you can truly begin to experience the world, but it's important to take things slowly at first. I can see you getting better and better day by day. It won't be long before you're playing rough and tumble with your brother again, just like old times!"
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!"
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Naoto's gaze also fell to the breakfast tray with the half-eaten bowl of porridge. She pursed her lips. "I'd like you to try, anyway, if you feel up to it. Even if it's only a few bites. I don't mind going through the effort of cooking, just as long as you try to eat a little of it."
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For Naoto, of course Al would try. He didn't even add hat he hoped she left the bucket nearby, because even the simplest of solid foods were a battle to get down. They tasted amazing -- but one physical sensation he was really learning to hate was vomiting.
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"I was thinking about making soup and sandwiches for everyone," she said. "Do you think you could eat a little soup? I can pick out any of the bits you don't like, or don't think you can eat."
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It didn't, really -- almost nothing sounded good, but for Naoto, he would try.
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"No, no," Naoto said, stepping over him. She was carrying a tray in both hands with a single bowl of soup, and the dog whimpered at being so close to the source of that delicious smell. "This isn't for you. You'll have to wait for dinner, okay?"
Checkers laid his head atop his paws once more. He made a noise that sounded suspiciously like an annoyed grunt.
"Here you go," Naoto said, sitting on the edge of the bed, and showing Al the fruits of her labor. "I hope you like it."
It was pretty typical country fare. Thick beef broth filled with choice pieces of meat, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and onions.
Reply
He knew it should be wonderful, and he did his best to keep his expression bright as long as she was in the room. It should be wonderful, but the smell made his stomach roll and he knew that the taste would set his mouth on fire, and chewing -- even the physical action of chewing and swallowing stimulated his gag reflex so badly that he was lucky if even one bite made it to his stomach. He just wanted to eat, and he didn't want his sister to know how miserable it made him that he couldn't.
He hoped she wouldn't stay and watch him.
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"It's okay, don't force yourself. Really. I don't want you to become ill..."
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"It's really good, Naoto, thanks."
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She turned her gaze toward the window, and therefore did not notice the tears that Al was so desperately trying to hide. A few birds twittered on the sill just outside.
"I know you're excited about getting well, so you can truly begin to experience the world, but it's important to take things slowly at first. I can see you getting better and better day by day. It won't be long before you're playing rough and tumble with your brother again, just like old times!"
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Just like old times -- he truly hoped so. He missed being with his friends, being able to receive hugs and eat food. All he wanted was a normal life.
[OOC: http://dramadramaduck.livejournal.com/5464429.html -- since Naoto helped Reeve build his.]
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