[ # 1 ] Doesn't Actually SleepWalk

[handsforhealing]

... 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?!

Comments

[bell-bound.livejournal.com]

A simple query would have sufficed.

[wontjustwait.livejournal.com]

Sorry for not meeting your expectations then.

[bell-bound.livejournal.com]

Indeed.

1/2

[wontjustwait.livejournal.com]

Hold on...

[wontjustwait.livejournal.com]

HOW IS A CAT TALKING?!

[bell-bound.livejournal.com]

Like so.

[wontjustwait.livejournal.com]

Cats aren't supposed to be able to talk though!!!

Do all the cats in this creepy place talk?!

[bell-bound.livejournal.com]

No, they do not.

[wontjustwait.livejournal.com]

Okay good.
Well... My name is Winry. Winry Rockbell. What's your name?

[bell-bound.livejournal.com]

Mogget.

[wontjustwait.livejournal.com]

Well, Mogget, it's nice to meet you...

So... What sort of stuff interests talking cats? And have you always been able to talk?

[bell-bound.livejournal.com]

...Sunshine. A comfortable place to sleep. Food. The usual feline pursuits.

[Voice dripping with sarcasm:] And no, I only began talking last week. It was quite a surprise.

[wontjustwait.livejournal.com]

You don't have to be rude about it. I was just curious.

[bell-bound.livejournal.com]

There is little to be curious about. Considering the nature of this place, I'm surprised that Mayfield did not take away my ability to speak as well as everything else.

[wontjustwait.livejournal.com]

So you've lost things to this place...? That explains why I can't find my bag or normal clothes...
Can this place do that? Take away abilities like speech? The way you talk it sounds like people have lost more than physical belongings...

[bell-bound.livejournal.com]

Your conclusion is correct. As well as removing all your possessions, Mayfield takes away all powers which make you more than an ordinary human - or indeed, feline.

[wontjustwait.livejournal.com]

I see... I wonder if Ed and Al lost their alchemy then... From the way you're talking, it sounds like you lost some powers too? I'm sorry to hear that...

[bell-bound.livejournal.com]

Oh, I didn't have much in the way of powers. I am simply grateful that my power of speech remains.

[wontjustwait.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's really something to be grateful. I can't imagine how horrible it would be to lose the ability to talk.

So, were you assigned a family to live in here as well?

[bell-bound.livejournal.com]

Yes. We are all forced into these family units.

[wontjustwait.livejournal.com]

Okay, so it's everyone...
I wonder what sort of families Ed and Al got then. Hopefully nothing too crazy...

Hmm... Are there any "drones" in your family?

[bell-bound.livejournal.com]

Yes, the children. They treat me as though I'm some ordinary pet, and seem oblivious to anything I say. I keep away from them. I would advise you to do the same; there is something unnatural about them.

[wontjustwait.livejournal.com]

I see... Drones sure seem annoying... My "sister" here, Charlotte, told me there used to be a drone as her big sister and it seems I replaced her... So I hope those kids get replaced for you soon.

Are the parents okay?

[bell-bound.livejournal.com]

They are not so bad, I suppose. At least they acknowledge me when I speak to them.

[wontjustwait.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's good. I know some non-drones who don't acknowledge you when they speak to you... You're pretty lucky.