maddest | [Text] the medium is the message; a riddle

Entry tags:

[Text] the medium is the message; a riddle

If I were to type you a poem, what would you think of me?

Look closer. Not all is as it first seems.

You look nice today.

[A twitch of laughter.]

[Al jumps, putting a hand over his heart, but then starts forward.]

I really, really hope this is one of those times when hugging is okay-

[Because he's already doing it. Warm and close.]

[Not bothering to play reluctant, Break puts his arms around him.]

Hello, Alphonse.

[Al takes a deep breath, and then lets it out. Break is holding himself a little differently. He seems stronger.]

Hello, Break.

[He draws back, laughing.]

Anything like you expected?

Fairly close, actually.

I'm glad, I wouldn't want to throw you off too much.

Are your lungs, too-?

No, not yet. People will want to kill me enough as it is.

[Al's hands pause on Break's arms. He's not used to guarding his expression around him, and it goes quickly to guarded, worried.]

Explain. Please.

Lucifer.

He's why you can see?

[Al's eyes widen, and he quickly takes a step back.]

Ah, see, there's the reaction.

[Al swallows, hard. He can barely remember, but this conversation-]

You can't have...

[Al shakes his head, looking at the ground.]

He did this for nothing?

In return for my kindness. I didn't have to give away anything.

[Al's shaking. Just a fine trembling in his hands, but he is.]

He's going to want something.

Yes, he wants several things, and we'll bargain for those down the line. But this, by itself, was a self-contained issue. I don't owe him anything for it, he won't expect anything because of it.

Walk with me- and keep a secret?

[More secrets. Al takes a slow breath and finally nods. He trusts Break, but he doesn't trust this situation. Not at all.]

... okay.

He was far more hurt by recent events than he let on. I helped him through it.

[Al gives him a doubtful, nervous look.

He's scared for him. And it shows.]

And as part of that, I got my eyesight back. Giftwrapped, signed and sealed.

I'm happy for that.

[Softly, admitting it as he begins walking with him.]

He did something very good for you.

I know it doesn't make an entire amount of sense, but to give you all the puzzle pieces would be to betray his trust. Just rest assured that I'm safe.

... I hope so.

I just- I don't want you to get hurt in this. It's so dangerous, Break. It could happen so easily.

Let me handle myself. I have experience with this.

Why do you have to do everything alone?

[Quietly.]

Because I'm not risking your neck for my eyes.

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

Re: [Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]

[Offline]