010 ☯ Alma [VIDEO]

[alma_karma]

[The feed clicks on accidentally as a small hand brushes by, the PDA tipped sideways in a tuft of tough, wet grass by what looks to be the edge of the apartment building. Alma is very close, only the lower portion of his body visible as he kneels in in the dirt, both arms stretched out in front of him as he prods at a pile of mud.

He continues his efforts for several minutes, ignoring the inclement weather and building his pile into a small pillar of sorts before pinching off a higher section on top. He pulls back and, after a moment, leans down far enough for the camera to catch his expression as scrutinizes his odd little creation, nose wrinkled and eyebrows furrowed. After a few more careful jabs and pokes he sits back again, the end product before him looking vaguely familiar.]

Comments

[tothelastbreath]

Yes, that should help. Too bad it's been raining so much lately, or it would probably last longer.

[Allen drops into a crouch to watch, looking pretty scruffy by his usual standards ― open collar, sleeves rolled up, shirt untucked. The gloves come off next, but he's not reaching to help just yet. Alma's making this one for him, after all.]

[alma_karma]

[Alma concentrates on the new pile he's molding in front of him, reaching to scrape at some of the drier, protected dirt at the edge of the building and add it in. The figure that slowly forms is a bit taller than the first, little fingers a little more sure as they pinch and prod to form the head.]

[tothelastbreath]

[Allen leans in to get a better look, making the golem perched on his head slide forward precariously.]

It's coming along nicely. You learn fast! Maybe we can try making something different after this.

[alma_karma]

[Alma flashes Allen a bright smile.]

What do you think we should make next?

[tothelastbreath]

[Grins right back, though there's a bit of a deer-in-the-headlights quality to it. Allen... Hasn't actually thought that far ahead.]

Well― We can try to make animals. [beat] Simple ones. Any requests?

[alma_karma]

[Missing that deer-in-headlights sort of look. He's too busy grabbing that extra bit of grass from Allen and adding it to the new figure. Such fabulous hair~]

Um... maybe a bird. Do you think we could do a bird?

[tothelastbreath]

[Nearly as fabulous as Kanda's, but only nearly

He reaches to pat the grass into place, trying to decide if it's possible to craft a bird out of mud. Erm.]

What about a duck? They're birds too.

[He's thinking the simple, rubber ducky sort of duck. Two blobs, on on top of the other. Allen can do that, no problem.]

[alma_karma]

Yeah! We could make it like it's swimming in water, 'cause I don't think we can make mud legs.

[tothelastbreath]

Yeah, they wouldn't hold.

[He settles comfortably on his haunches, then reaches to scoop up two big handfuls of mud. The cool moistness of it catches him by surprise; it's been years and years since Allen was really allowed to be a kid.]

I'll work on the body. Mind helping me make the head?

[alma_karma]

[You should try it more often, Allen. Alma can help.]

Okay! [Alma dives right in beside Allen, scooping out a smaller handful and reaching once more for the drier dirt by the edge of the building. He'll need his ball more stable if he wants to make a beak.]

[tothelastbreath]

[Maybe sometime after fog week! A mud fight would be rather welcome. Heaven knows it'll help him de-stress a bit.

After some awkward attempts at getting his oval to hold more than sag, Allen follows Alma's example by mixing in some of the drier dirt (and spares a very brief moment to picture what Link's face might look now, if he'd still been around to catch them like this). It shapes up a lot better after that, and soon, he's holding a mostly oval lump of mud, which he's busy fashioning into an upturned tip at one end for the tail.]

[pausing to show it to Alma:] What do you think?

[Since Alma's the local expert and all.]

[alma_karma]

[And with a name like 'mud fight', they can probably even get Kanda involved~

And Link... well, who listens to Link anyway? Other than Alma.

Alma looks up to examine the body, nodding his approval with a grin before going back to fashioning the beak.]

It's good!

[tothelastbreath]

[Oh, Kanda is getting involved whether he likes it or not. Allen is confident a mud ball to the back of his ponytailed head will get him very involved.

And that is true.]

Really? [ Leans in to peer and then upnod at Alma's work. ] I want it to be as good as the head.

[Tail done and relatively stable, he picks up a sharp pebble to scratch wings into either side of the duck's body. They're even not too terribly crooked.]

[alma_karma]

Yeah!

[Alma uses his pinky finger to poke eyes in the front of the head, giving his creation one last look over before presenting it to Allen proudly.

It even looks mostly like a duck head!]

[tothelastbreath]

[Excellent! Combine Alma's mostly duck-like head with Allen's mostly duck-like body, and they just might have at least half a duck between them.

Allen tilts his head in careful appraisal of Alma's creation, then quirks his lips, the cant of his smile mild but affectionate.]

I think you have me beat. [He cups his half in a hand, then; holding it up to Alma.] Shall we?

[alma_karma]

[Alma wiggles happily under that praise, lifting his half to try and stick the head and body together.]

[tothelastbreath]

[Quickly dabs some semi-wet mud on the joining point to help it stick, then just holds the bottom half steady for him while Tim flutters his wings at the approach of this monumental moment.]

[alma_karma]

[Alma fiddles with the duck for a few long moments, tongue sticking out between his lips in extreme concentration. This part is crucial!

And finally, with some careful smoothing and adjusting, the head is in place!]

There!

[tothelastbreath]

[Allen continues to hold very, very still for a moment, only lifting their joint creation to eye level when he's absolutely certain the head won't roll off.]

[holding it out for inspection:] Well? I'd say we did good.

[alma_karma]

[Alma nods enthusiastically, throwing his muddy hands in the air.]

It's excellent!

[tothelastbreath]

[Blinks as some flecks of mud go flying from Alma's enthusiasm, but eh, what's a bit of mud when he's already wrist-deep in the stuff.]

And it's yours! [ He lowers the mudduck, clearly meaning to deposit it in Alma's hands. ] Here, want to hold it?

[alma_karma]

[Alma accepts the mudduck with a smile, cradling it carefully with both hands.]

How long do you think it will last?

[tothelastbreath]

[Absently rubbing his palms together to rid them of excess mud.]

Can't say for sure, but it should at least last a few days if you bring it indoors.

[alma_karma]

[Alma's not at all worried about mud, admiring their creation.]

We should show Yu.

[tothelastbreath]

[A pause. Since his return to Nesreca, Allen has yet to deal with both Alma and Kanda in person, and it's going to be... Difficult, knowing as much as he does now. There are days when he doesn't quite know how to be around Kanda, because things do change when you finally come to understand someone. In the end, though, he supposes it's best to act like nothing's changed, at least for the moment. Keep that part of everyone's lives constant.]

I don't see why not. Want to go now?