** platonic / familial actions. your  muse  places  a  flower  crown  atop  my  muses  head.

•••

▐│∶x∶; —                             early mornings and late nights were more or less the only times of day they could venture... relatively safely around the city. sometimes nina could walk the alleys on her own but other times, he'd take it on himself to scoop her up and carry her most of the ways ( a gesture that made his skin crawl--it's not her fault, it's his fault--why the fuck does this shit bother him it's so fucking stupid ).

they'd found one of the abandoned buildings in the eastern area of dublith, a section where the city had become more of a skeleton than a living organism. mother nature moved into the homes and shops humans had left behind, encouraging the growth of vines, fungi and other plantlife to find shelter on the walls, in the shadows. there's always a threat of weakened structure--keeping an eye on a dented roof, a sketchy looking wall. but those aside... it's damn peaceful.

dolcetto found himself a sturdy-enough ledge to perch on, leaning into the old brick and eyeing what of the old roads and alleys he could see. it's unlikely that anyone else is wandering around out here. he just feels better keeping an eye on things... especially with nina out here with him. she's been exploring the nooks and crannies of the large open building, and he casts a glance to the interior every now and again to make sure she hasn't gotten into trouble. he's not gonna baby her... make her feel stupid and helpless... but he's also not going to let her wander too far from his reach. just in case.

minutes passed, and the dull glow from his pipe gradually dimmed to nothing. he emptied the ashes out the window and turned his head, brows raising as nina's form hobbled toward him.

            ❛ y'ready to head back, kid? m'sure owen's             made breakfast by n--... whatcha got there? ❜

he swings his legs over the ledge and drops to the ground beside her, letting himself duck into a kneel. there's a cluster of flowers poking out and around her thicker mane of hair, and upon closer inspection, he realizes that she's managed to weave some of them together in a very loose sort of circle. can't tell what kinda flower they are, though. just that they almost seem to reflect what moonlight pools on the petals. ...s'kinda cool.

dol gently adjusts some of the buds so they balance a bit better on her ears, and he almost neglects to see that she's got a second bundle of them. she gingerly pushes them toward his palm, and he accepts the offer. the loose weaves won't fit on his head... but he gives it a toss onto his shoulders, wearing it more like a necklace than the crown she'd tried to make.

( Late night sentence starters - accepting ) A letter from @inseparabilum​ reads:   ❝ You can't... see the stars from here... ❞

【 ☆ 】Crestfallen, the alchemist can’t help but frown. He’s unsure what he could say, what he could do, that might offer even a momentary lift of Nina’s spirits. It’d been some time since he’d seen the night sky himself. Which was a far departure from when he’d spend countless nights in his backyard as a kid; where he’d chart stars with his treasure telescope while bundled up in blankets.

                 Hold on...

                 A thought occurred. One that struck with such force that it caused Noctus to visibly perk upright. Without so much as a word to Nina, he stands, and reaches into the bag at his waist. From which he pulls a few pieces of chalk, they clack against each other lightly as he steps up to the cold concrete wall opposite. He’s smiling now, beaming even, when he starts to draw. But it’s not a transmutation circle.

                 His knowledge of astronomy helps guide his hand as he drew a series of stars. Which, on it’s own, wouldn’t have been too impressive of a feat. Were it not for the fact that each was placed in relative distance and arrangement from the other, mimicking the actual night sky as close as possible. Noctus even scribbled the names, which also acted as a bearing to better chart out the rest of the stars.

                 Given that he was drawing only a 5-point star ( rather than the complex array of a transmutation circle ) it took almost no time to fill the entire length of the hallway. For a final touch, he drew dotted lines between some of the well known constellations. There was barely a stub left of his chalk to bag when he turned back to Nina, dusting the powder from his hands. 

infirmary – muse a wakes up in the hospital and finds muse b at their bedside

                 ❝ I -- IT’S REALLY TRUE -- !! AL -- ! ❞ 

                of course the first thing the young fullmetal alchemist would do is call for his brother to come to his side as ed felt himself threaten to be whisked away by a whirlpool of emotions . of course , there was the relief that came with knowing that she wasn’t actually dead -- but then came all of the pain that followed what her still being alive really meant . all of the stabbing guilt that threatened to crush him under its very weight as he stood before something that , at least in ed’s mind , was totally preventable if only he had been less helpless . less clueless . even naive . 

               that’s right -- because as much as he wanted to deny it , or act like he had already grown far past his years , edward was only a naive child . helplessly watching on as the true , tragic nature of the world is slowly revealed before his eyes . 

              but perhaps it is that childlike naivete that keeps him going , as well . moves his body from the doorway to her bedside ; unsure of whether to call her nina , or alexander , or ... just i’m so sorry . as hard as it was for him to meet the other’s gaze in this way , it wouldn’t be right of him to try to avoid it simply because of how he felt . this wasn’t about him ; not now .

              ❝ ... EVEN DESPITE ALL THE ODDS , al &&. i are still searching for a way to get our bodies back . every single person on this planet could tell us it’s impossible , but that’s never mattered to us . not for a second . ❞ as he speaks , his pain begins to reveal more of the fire hidden just beneath it .

             ❝ I KNOW THERE HAS to be a way ... a way to get you two back to normal , too . &&. i’m not gonna rest until we find it . that’s a promise . ❞

What wins is a soft turn on her heel, and a cautious few strides, before crouching a slight to bring herself closer to it’s level; curiosity, concern clear on her quiet voice,

“ Hey there, ” she coos, still far enough off not to clearly see them, just in case, but the more she watches the more she’s convinced there’s something wrong; she’s worried whatever it is might be... hurt? lost?

“ Everythin’ okay? I didn’t mean t’spook ya’, if I did... ”

   The act prompted an adorable squeak from the chimera after the tip of her muzzle was booped, followed by a soft look of curiosity directed at the chimera.

    “ What’d you… do that for?.. “

That energy was....familiar. Mottled. Conglomerate. Rough. 

drawing christinas glasses got me thinking. Hohenheim doesnt need glasses - so does he wear them to avoid reminding himself of Homunculi? And would Hom. avoid wearing modern clothes to avoid resembling Hoh.? 

ANyway dancing is fun