handsforhealing | [ # 1 ] Doesn't Actually SleepWalk

... What... happened? I remember I fell asleep in that Ishbalen Refugee Camp... And I know this isn't the same place I fell asleep. I was definitely sleeping in a tent, and that is most certainly a roof above my head... and the ground was really hard last night, but somehow I woke up in a pretty comfy bed...

Did I sleep walk? No, that can't be. I don't have weird habits like sleep walking... I hope not. But even if it was sleep walking, this is just ridiculous! I must have walked more in my sleep than I did in a whole day!

Aaahh... This is all just way too confusing... Well, I should probably start by figuring out whose house I'm in... This is going to be embarrassing. I can't believe I woke up in a stranger's house...
hmm?
[ Winry picks up a photo from the nightstand near her and examines it. ]
... A family portrait? What a happy looking family... They look like nice enough people... Yeah, don't be so worried, Winry. I'm sure they'll understand, even if you don't...
...
Wait a second...
[ She notices herself in the picture. ]
That's.... ME?! Wh-What the heck? This isn't my family! How did I get in their family portrait?! [ She looks down and realizes her clothes have changed too; she's in pajamas from sleeping ] M-M-MY CLOTHES HAVE CHANGED!!! Who changed my clothes? WHY? AAAH! This is getting really really creepy REALLY REALLY fast! I just need to grab my supplies bag and get out of here before I meet the creeps who did this... MY BAG IS GONE! What's going on here?!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

um... okay...?

Right, I'll be at my house then. I've met my "little sister", so I guess you two don't have to rush yourselves too much... I really would like to know what's going on, though.

Yeah, there's... a lot we need to tell you. It's good to know that at least some of your "family" here is nice, though.

Yeah, you do... All I've figured out so far is that I have a new fact family, my last name is "Stein" or something, and replaced something called a "drone" when I came here...

Did you get a nice family here...?

Stein? I think that's one of the teachers. He's a little eccentric, but he doesn't seem to be a bad person.

Um, well, compared to how it could have been, I got pretty lucky. The people I've been staying with are in the same basic situation as us.

A teacher? So we have to attend classes here too?
But I guess that won't be so bad. I can try to live with eccentric.

I see... So... That means none of them are "drones", right?

Some of the kids here do, but Brother and I haven't been going. As long as you're subtle about staying home, I don't think anyone will bother you.

Right. I guess I can go ahead and tell you, just so you won't be too confused in case you meet one of them. The "drones" are the locals of this town--they completely buy into the idea of our fake families, and treat us like we've lived in this place our whole lives.

Why haven't you been going to school? Is it bad there?

... uuugh... I've barely been here an hour and this place is already giving me the creeps.

School doesn't sound so bad, but it does seem a little pointless. Plus I'm probably way too big to even fit in the desks.

Yeah... I don't want to scare you, but you need to be really careful here, Winry.

I-Is that so...? I guess school might be pointless... But it can't hurt to go.

Right... thanks, Al. I'll try to be careful then... Anything in particular I should avoid?

The police chief and some of the other locals have the power to "brainwash" us whenever we cause too much trouble for them. I know it isn't easy, but it's better to go along with what they say to avoid attracting attention.

Brainwash?! You and Ed haven't gotten yourselves brainwashed, have you? It's not permanent, is it?

Just once!

It can be permanent, though. I'll explain more about that in person.

[ # 1 ] Doesn't Actually SleepWalk

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