kiri, if I understand you right... yes you can just use one alias to do this.
as an example:

alias AFK { 
  if (!$away) {
    ame is Away $iif(!$1,Gone,$1-)
   .away $iif(!$1,Gone,$1-)
  }  
  else {
    ame is back from being Away - $awaymsg
    .away
  }
}

I personally find no real use for an away snippet to be honest, but a-lot of people like to use them so to each their own.
anyways it's just one more way of learning msl.
So keep trying an never stop learning.....