Title: Appreciation
Author: Kristen Sharpe
Date: October 31, 2011
Rating: G
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: "Fullmetal Alchemist" belongs to Hiromu Arakawa, Square ENIX, Studio BONES and various other parties.
Author's Note: Pre-series.

“They loved it.”

“Yes, they did.”

Al was starting to wonder how many times they were going to have this conversation.

“The fangs, the snakes, the skulls.  They loved it.”

Al glanced at his brother.  The dazed, starry-eyed expression was still there.

“The entire main entryway leading into town,” Ed breathed, “and they loved it.”

“They thought you were helping to decorate for the festival while making repairs,” said Al.

A harvest festival that mingled winter preparations with stories of the restless dead walking the earth.  Ed’s freakish taste in alchemic creations just happened to complement the festival’s traditional macabre décor.

“Why did we have to leave early?”  Ed’s face drew down in a pout.  “Some people were asking me about decorating the main inn.  We could have caught a morning train.”

No, Al thought, they could not.  By morning, someone might have realized that Ed’s alchemic handiwork was permanent.