automailed | [Video / Action]

[The journal clicks on as it drops to the ground, recording a quiet curse and a dark screen. After a moment it lifts up, revealing a flash view of Edward in a tank top as he tilts his arm, prodding at the metal limb that is apparently not cooperating as well as it should.]

What the hell is wrong with this thing? It's not-

[And his words are quite abruptly cut off as a small explosion sparks between the journal and his shoulder, and there's a flurry of images too smothered by motion blur to really make any sense. The audio, or what can be made out beyond the rush of air, is replaced by a startled yelp, followed by silence... and then, as the journal crashes into the foliage after a few moments, a steady stream of colourful and half-muffled curses.

To illustrate...

Action-wise: Edward is going to be around the town today, though not his usual, unhappily-composed self. No, today he is going to be chasing his arm around the town, since it's apparently decided to malfunction and start going off completely at random! So maybe you see it flying past you. Maybe you see it crash. Maybe it crashes into you. Or maybe, while running, he trips, stumbles, and... rolls on one foot in a mad flail as if on skates or something. Today is just not his day at all.

In other words? Haruhi got her way, as usual...]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

All State Alchemists get codenames when they're certified. 'Fullmetal' is mine.

[S-so formal. Feeling suddenly awkward, Edward turns away, lifting a hand over his shoulder to wave.]

Yeah, it's fine. Same to you.

Fullmetal? [He thinks.] Aight, I can swing it.

So we almost there or--

[Beat takes a few more steps and whump. He hits something invisible and falls over.]

[Japan bows until Ed is gone, then clutches a hand to his chest, trying to quiet his hammering heart. THAT WAS AWESOME and terrifying BUT AWESOME.

Time to shuffle home!]

[Edward follows at a slower pace, reaching out to press his hand against the barrier.]

Yeah, you found it. Good job.

Ow, goddammit, my nose....

[Beat sits up, rubbing his face. Wtf, man. Warn him about this shit. He sits crosslegged and stares in front of him. Damn... Didn't feel like the usual Wall.]

So, yo' friend on the other side a' this?

[Edward's expression sobers up at that, rapping his automail knuckles against it. Feels just as solid as the last time, and he'd tried every alchemy technique he knew against it.]

That's what I've heard. No one really knows where anyone who gets kidnapped is taken, though.

Don' matta'. We'll find 'em.

[Beat doesn't care about caution. He just takes a few steps back and then bashes himself against the barrier.

He staggers back.

Does it again.

And again.

Yeah, he's just going to keep doing this for awhile. You'd think it'd hurt, but Beat doesn't seem to notice.]

Goddamn wall!!!

[And... Edward isn't surprised. A little disappointed, because he'd almost, almost been hopeful, what with this guy's confidence level. But the barrier hadn't even budged an inch after everything that he, Al, and Greed had thrown at it. It's just too damned strong.]

You can't break it?

[He takes a step back, putting a fist to his mouth. Damn thing is stronger than he thought. Up to the same level as the wall to Shibuya River...

He spits on the ground and takes another punch at it, leaving his fist where it's connected to the barrier.]

...Gotta find me a keypin...

Sorry, Fullmetal.

[He's always happy to talk about his world.] Yeah, it's known to be on a few planets. It's basically the manipulation of the elements to create a specific effect -- like form ice or a fireball. Some people would just peg it as "magic" because the effects aren't widely understood.

...It's okay. [Even though it isn't, really, since Winry's still trapped there and he has no way to get to her. He gives the barrier a stubborn kick, turning away.] It was worth a shot, so thanks for that, at least.

Manipulation... so you can't just create it out of nothing, then? It's like Equivalent Exchange?

[A magic that respects science? If it's true, this is something he can get behind!]

[Letting out a frustrated growl, Beat slams his head into the barrier. Which...should hurt and yet he just backs up and starts yelling at it.]

WE GONNA BEAT YO' FACES IN, YOU BASTARDS!!! WHEN WE FIND YOU, WE GONNA BRING THE PAIN!!

[Edward glances back, then steps over, grabbing Beat by the arm.]

Hey, stop that already! You're just gonna crack your head open or something!

[He stops when Ed grabs his arm, still seething at the barrier.]

My head's too hard ta' crack! YOU HEAR ME, YOU STUPID...WHATEVA' YOU ARES!

[That might have been spoken a little too loud. But he won't apologize.]

Effectively, yes. It doesn't matter how many crests you form or how complex the balance of elements is -- if you don't have the necessary energy, nothing will happen. But like I said, it's still not completely understood; we don't know the range from which elements are manipulated, or where some people find the energy to trigger more powerful crests. [...Like the Ten Wise Men and the Crest of Annihilation.]

[~~But it all makes sense after the grand reveal in Star Ocean 3. Sob.~~]

[Edward releases him once Beat stops, though he doesn't step back, glowering at the barrier right along with him. He hates feeling helpless, and he'd only just come to terms that the barrier wouldn't be easy to break. This trip only served to make that point hit home all over again.]

Let's... just head back. If we can't break it, staying here is just gonna make us mad.

[Well fine, be an asshole about it. Ed can do that too- demonstrated by his "connection" of the head to Robo-Ky's body, which is... basically just smacking the head in place.

Backwards.

See how helpful he is?]

Yeah, that definitely sounds like alchemy. Though with alchemy, it's not energy that's limited, but the material you've got to work with. [Fascinating stuff, though.] Is it something anyone can learn, or do you need natural talent?

[It totally works! He is officially no longer headless. Simply armless.

Wait, why can't he see that guy anymore.]

[....lol.]

No, I'm still here.

[Hnnngh. Beat wants to keep smacking into it, but if experience has taught him anything, walls don't fall without the right keypins. And there aren't any Reapers here that he can get the pins from. Dammit!]

NNNGH! Aight.... [He sighs and pushes his hat back a little.]

I'm gonna find a way to break it, Fullmetal. You just wait and see.

[He can't see youuuu.]

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a likely story 8|

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8) ilu

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