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Yeah, that's him, but he didn't mention his name to me.

[He will be tactful and not mention the weird typing style, because he has a feeling it might be the same problem Tim has sometimes.]

He just said he was a friend and he wanted to know where to find you.

Yeah, it... That's not surprising.

[ The lack of a name or the wanting-to-find-Tim-ness. The guy has to keep his stalking skills sharp, after all.

Tim would ordinarily not even consider giving Creepy Hooded Guy his location. Stalking and pill-stealing are not funtimes, dammit. But... It's Brian. And he's almost out of pills anyway. And he said he was a friend.

Hurgh. ]

We're - we're back in the ice tunnels. Going to try and map out things beyond the hospital, so. He - he said he was a friend?

Mm.

[Actually, Brian had said that Tim called him a friend, but it was the same thing to Alphonse. Surely if Tim called him a friend, then they were friends? And it was typed rather than said, but again that's a small discrepancy.]

He was... kind of confused, I think, but he seemed really eager to find you.

[Dryly:] Confused, or confusing?

Pretty sure he's not confused about much. Not - well. Not the way he sees it, anyway. You know how it is.

[ Does he, Tim. DOES HE REALLY ]

[He obviously doesn't have a whole lot of experience in this, but he assumes Tim is referring to his own cryptic behaviour when he's not doing well.]

He's sick, isn't he? Like... like you?

[Poor guy, does this mean he might have lucid times the same as Tim as well?]

Yeah, I... kind of. I've said before that - that you don't know how bad the sickness can get? What the tall thing can do?

Well. There - there you go. Brian. Or what used to be Brian, I guess. My oldest friend.

[It's a mark of how much he's slowly come to learn about Tim and this illness, that he doesn't immediately ask if anything could be done or offer to come and help.]

I'm... I'm really sorry. He must... he must at least still remember part of who he was, if he remembers that you're friends.

Yeah, that's. Kind of what I'm hoping for, so. If there's something left...

[ He can coax it back out and then apologise for everything up to and including killing the guy?

Ugrhrhfhgh. ]

Well. Uh, don't - don't be scared of him or whatever, anyway. He's not dangerous.

[ To you. Just dear sweet Alex-chan. ]

I won't be, I'm not.

[Tim should at least know that's true, Al doesn't give up on anyone even if they can be kind of jerks.]

If he's not dangerous, do you want me to help find him so he can travel with you?

Yeah, uh, I'm. Not sure it's a good idea. It's kinda complicated.

[ He's pretty sure Jay wouldn't be thrilled, for one thing. And... Brian probably wouldn't be, either.

WHY DO THINGS HAVE TO BE SO COMPLICATED. ]

You can, uh, tell him where we are? Then if - if he makes his way down here, it'll be on his own terms. He's, uh, like the other me. Kind of flighty, so.

Yeah, okay, I can do that.

[Anything he can do to help, however small, is the unsaid implication in those few words.]

This place might be hard to live in a lot of the time, but it could be a place for second chances too.

Well, yeah.

[ The "duh" afterwards is heavily implied by Tim's tone.

And then he realises that he's being an ass and hasn't provided context for that. ]

He - he's like Jay. Dead back home. So. Literally a second chance.

[There's just a beat of hesitation, a pause in which Al swallows his response about the dead returning. He still feels the same way, but he took Tim's lessons to heart about projecting that onto others without proof.]

Oh.

[Oh, indeed.]

I'm sorry.

[ Oh god. NOPE. Tim really, really can't deal with anyone being sorry for him in this. Not when Brian's dead because of him.

His voice is thick and strained when he finally responds. ]

Yeah. Me too.

[This is the part where he would pat Tim on the shoulder comfortingly, if only his dumb friend hadn't run off to indulge his guilt complex alone.]

I'll keep an eye out for him too, okay?

[You can always trust Al to mother hen everyone.]

Thanks. Just - keep an eye on your stuff if you meet up. He has sticky fingers.

I don't think that's much of an issue here, there's not really anything of value for him to steal from us.

[Also Al is large and metal, he can punch thieves hard.]

You say that now. Wait 'til you wake up with a foot missing.

[ HE'S KIDDING.

Probably. ]

I can't actually take my feet off here, so that's probably not going to be a problem.

[Not a good joke with someone who can usually dismantle their entire body.]

[ S I G H... ]

Okay, substitute "foot" for "all your rations, good luck not starving to death." Better?

Right, right, I understand, I'll be careful.

[Pot. Kettle.]

I guess I better get back to him, I'll talk to you later, okay?

[Or not, because his brother will die and life will be horrible.]

Alright. Thanks again for looking out for him.

[ LIFE IN SNOWHELL IS JUST

THE FUCKING BEST

A+++ ]

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