Sometimes people leave you, halfway through the wood.

[garbagechild]

Who: Alphonse Elric, Envy, Greed, and Wrath.
Where: An ill-fated bakery. All around Goldenrod. The freakin' basement.
When: August 11th onwards! This is a catch-all.
Summary: The world has been pretty good to the various monsters and serial killers hailing from Amestris, but one particular villainous wild child has yet to be rehabilitated.
Rating: PG-13 for talk of abuse, manipulation, brainwashing, all that good stuff.
Log:

Continued from here.

Comments

OCTOBER 10TH: the prodigal son returns

[garbagechild]

<sub>[It's been a few days since they let Wrath go, and there hasn't been hide nor hair of him on the network.]

[Which probably isn't too surprising, all things considered.]

[But a few hours after sundown on the 10th, there's some vague scratching sounds at the glass door into the yard. Where a small, scraggly shadow is standing like some kind of ghoul, hands planted against the glass. He peers in, UNCERTAINLY.]</sub>

[a_sin_for_him]

[Lust is in the kitchen when she hears it. She's already changed for bed, in comfortable pajamas and bathrobe with her hair pinned up, and she's rummaging for a snack. She pauses at the noise, cocking her head. Has someone - possibly her - left a Pokemon outside that can't manage doors itself?]

[Bag of popcorn still in hand, she briskly heads to the door...only to blink in surprise at what's scratching to come in. So there he is. She'd wondered, she couldn't help it. But here he is. She flips on the light and clicks the latch for the door with a small smile.]

[She's surprised how glad she is to see him.]

Someone needs to teach you about doorbells. Come inside, I was just going to make some popcorn.

[garbagechild]

<sub>[Wrath's eyes don't reflect in the darkness like they used to anymore-- but the owl-eyed way he looks up at her probably would have looked positively demonic if they'd still been Homunculi. Instead, it looks the way it should-- a little wary, a little bit like a rabbit in the yard at night the second you turn the patio light on.]

[He cocks his head to the side, but doesn't reply. Not just YET, anyway.]

[Instead, he steps into the house, gingerly, as though expecting someone to swoop out of nowhere with a net. When that doesn't happen, he takes another few steps, bare feet slapping quietly on the tile.]

[THEN he speaks, looking over at Lust.]</sub>

Is popcorn a bread?

[a_sin_for_him]

No it's....

[He's a child. Calling it a vegetable probably isn't going to warm him up t the snack.]

It's like a puffy round chip. But you make it yourself, with science.

[She shakes the bag, maintaining an air of amiable calm despite how thrilled she is that Wrath has returned on his own.]

All those little hard things turn into fluffy little balls of snack food when they get hot. Do you want to see? We can do it right in the microwave.

[garbagechild]

<sub>[Yeah, Wrath has already discovered that he's not a big fan of vegetables. Mushy Rocket HQ cafeteria carrot coins are disgusting.]

[But he nods understandingly as she talks-- because ah. If it's made using science, it must be safe. Nothing scientific turns out like it isn't supposed to! ... Well, at least if it's one of THEM doing it. Homunculi are good at science.]</sub>

Okay.

The microwave is the box that makes things not-cold, right?

_{[There were one or two in the HQ, but he never really paid attention to them. If something got cold he just ate it that way.]}

[a_sin_for_him]

Mmhmm. Come on, you can have a glass of chocolate milk, too.

[Lust heads back to the kitchen counters to finish her snack-preparation, assuming Wrath will follow. Guttle rolls over, excited at the prospect of both snacks AND Little Scruffy Friend.]

I take it things were perfectly fine when you returned to your other teammates? Have you been talking with Ralph regularly? I hope so, he missed you a great deal.

[garbagechild]

_{[Oh wow. That REALLY catches his interest, and he follows her, wide-eyed.]}

Chocolate milk?

_{[HE WAS UNAWARE SUCH A THING EXISTED.]}

Yes... my team-mates covered for me. I wasn't expecting that to happen.

_{[No one amongst the Homunculi was willing to take the fall for any of the others. Or at least none in Wrath's experience, which admittedly was probably a little different considering the only one who had any particular attachment to him had been Sloth.]}

Ralph was happy to see me.

I was happy to see him, too.

He's a good friend. Maybe the best.

_{[AND THEN GUTTLE JOINS THE CONVERSATION and Wrath IMMEDIATELY abandons the act of speaking in order to pat the Spheal ALL OVER.]}

[a_sin_for_him]

If you take the chocolate syrup used for ice cream in a glass of milk and stir it, it makes the milk chocolate.

[While Wrath is busy with Guttle, Lust gets out the milk and two glasses and sticks the bag of popcorn in the microwave.]

Ralph's a very good friend. If you two can roll yourselves over here for a few minutes, you can watch it all happen.

Does everyone understand where you've been and what's happened?

[She knows Wrath's perceptions are...unique, but he's a smart child.]

[garbagechild]

<sub>[Chocolate syrup? Ice cream? These are all things that Wrath is unfamiliar with.]

[But he definitely wants to see what this popcorn business is all about, so he ambles over, keeping one hand on Guttle.]</sub>

Um... I didn't tell them everything.

But I said I was sorry a lot.

[armoredsoul]

[Al hears the noises and dismisses the first few scratches as a wild Pokemon poking around. But then it continues, and he gets curious enough to set his book aside and go looking.]

[When he actually gets around the corner and sees Wrath on the other side of the door he breaks into a relieved, wide grin and runs to the door, unlocking it and flinging it open before scooping Wrath up into a tight hug.]

Wrath, you're back!! [HE WAS SO WORRIED YOU WOULDN'T RETURN]

[garbagechild]

<sub>[Is nobody home? Maybe nobody's home. Maybe he should just-- oh. No, there's one. There's Alphonse. Here he comes. ... Here he comes really FAST OH N--]

[Eyes popping wide open, Wrath manages not to bolt as Al literally SWEEPS HIM OFF HIS FEET.]

[And then he dangles like a ragdoll.]

[IT'S A HUG. HUGGING IS HAPPENING. HUGS ARE GOOD. Everything is okay.]</sub>

[armoredsoul]

[HUGS ARE DEFINITELY HAPPENING! But Al sets Wrath down after a few moments--he can tell Wrath got a little spooked there, whoops.]

I was worrying--did things go okay with your other team? Did you get in trouble?

[He doesn't know how bad the Rockets are--they're about as dark as this world seems to get, and that's just what's shown to the public. He remembers those bombs in Ecruteak.]

[garbagechild]

<sub>[He may have been spooked, but it's at least better than it was before. Which is really all any of them could ask for.]

[Once set down, he stands there on the patio blinking up at Al owlishly.]</sub>

No...

My team-mates covered for me.

[armoredsoul]

[Relief shows clear on Al's face and he beckons Wrath to come inside. He can cook up a few grilled cheese sandwiches for them both, with tomato soup to go with it. Wrath must be pretty chilled!]

Did they? That's good to hear! C'mon, I'll make something for us to eat.

[Beryl the Eevee peeks around the corner, then chirps and comes bounding over to run around Wrath's feet. Come play, come play!]

[garbagechild]

_{[Wrath perks up automatically at the mention of food. ALL of Shark House had learned during that two-month period that treats were the quickest way to earn Wrath's trust.]}

Okay.

_{[He steps gingerly inside, almost as though expecting something awful to happen-- but then the Eevee appears, and Wrath immediately bends down to pat him. He likes Eevees! He likes them a lot.]}

Hello!

[armoredsoul]

[Al notices Beryl and laughs as he heads into the kitchen, trusting that they'll follow him in due time.]

[Beryl chirrups again and leans up into Wrath's hand. Ah, yes; play is best but pettings are nice, too! After a moment, though, he bounces up to climb onto Wrath's shoulder and sniff curiously in his hair. There are so many smells in there!]

[Beryl, NO]

[garbagechild]

_{[A gasp and a squeak ensue when the Eevee leaps up, but fortunately the little fox doesn't need to worry about any violence. Instead Wrath just hunches his shoulders, twisting his neck a little to escape from the Eevee's cold, curious nose.]}

[exeggutorhead]

[Envy hadn't been completely sure that Wrath would come back. There were a lot of reasons he might not. He might have decided that he didn't want to get locked back in the basement. Someone might have convinced him not to. There's the mysterious Team Rocket maybe-punishment.]

[He might just lose track of time and not realize that several weeks had gone by.]

[But there's a scratching at the door, and a familiar silhouette that makes Envy go right over and open it up. He'd just been wandering around the house, wondering if Henry or Lust were awake. This is much more important.]

[He grins, if a little awkwardly. He's still not quite sure how to go about this new way of acting with Wrath.]

Hey, come on in.

[Wrath doesn't look banged up, but Envy's trying to subtly look him over for injuries. As much as he'd insisted on the punishments being different, the idea of it is hard to shake.]

[garbagechild]

<sub>[There were all of those reasons AND MORE.]

[But nope. Here he is.]

[He stands there wordlessly as Envy opens the door, and then steps inside veeeeeeery slooooooowly. Like a baby deer stepping onto a road for the first time. He doesn't seem to be any worse for the wear-- maybe a LITTLE grubbier than when they let him out just because he went right back to running around outdoors with no shoes-- but no injuries.]

[Only when nothing awful involving nets and the basement stairs happens does he look up at Envy and speak.]</sub>

I came back.

[exeggutorhead]

[No, there's no nets. Envy doesn't even make any sudden movements.]

Yeah, I can see that.

Hey, I got some good new kinds of chocolate since you left, you want some?

[Wrath not looking hurt is a good sign, and the timidity is probably to be expected. If he doesn't have to, he doesn't want to throw a bunch of questions at the kid right away.]

[And food? Food works.]

[garbagechild]

_{[While the wariness doesn't ENTIRELY disappear, Wrath does seem to brighten up a little. He nods.]}

Yes, please.

_{[Who the heck taught him these manners? Maybe he's just trying to be extra careful.]}

[exeggutorhead]

[Well that politeness sure is a thing. A new one. But hell if Envy's going to complain.]

[He will try to be as non-threatening as he can be, though. He has a good idea of why Wrath might suddenly want to be Extra Good.]

Okay, c'mon then, it's in the kitchen. Just follow me.

[He half turns, seems to come to some kind of decision, and then reaches to muss at Wrath's hair for the second time ever. That had worked the first time it happened! And it is a thing that Envy is able to do.]

[Without commenting on it because that is Not a thing he is able to do, he turns the rest of the way and leads Wrath to the kitchen, going to dig in the drawers for that chocolate.]

[garbagechild]

<sub>[OH DON'T WORRY ENVY. It won't last. But yes, for now he is actually VERY invested in being good.]

[His eyes widen when the older Homunculus' hand descends on his head again-- even if it's happened once and he knows what to expect, it's still new. But then he follows after Envy with a tiny smile.]

[Envy has obtained +1 wild-haired duckling.]</sub>

[exeggutorhead]

[Envy manages to find the chocolate bar--some kind of caramel sea salt thing that Wrath hasn't tried before--and unwraps it before handing over a square of it.]

[He flops down into one of the chairs around the table, hoping that Wrath will follow his example. Does Wrath know how about chairs? IT'S A MYSTERY.]

You didn't get in too much trouble because of all this, did you?

[garbagechild]

<sub>[WRATH KNOWS ABOUT CHAIRS. Gosh, Envy, have a little faith.]

[He climbs carefully into the one across from Envy, folding his legs underneath him before holding out his hands to accept the little square of chocolate. He remembers being rewarded with the occasional red stone like this. Probably not the most positive thing to associate it with, but those memories are tinted with the closest thing he had to good feelings while under Dante's thumb, so they can take what they can get.]

[Sticking it into his mouth right away, he shakes his head a little.]</sub>

No.

My new team-mates covered for me.

I was surprised.

_{[THAT KIND OF THING DIDN'T HAPPEN WITH THE HOMUNCULI, where having others screw up meant you looked better by comparison and therefore didn't have to worry as much.]}