automailed | [Video / Action]

Entry tags:

[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...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Edward doesn't comment, prodding at his arm a little more before tapping at a panel and clicking his arm back into place with a slight wince. Damn nerves. But hey, he can move his arm again! After a few cautious stretches, he hops down to the next branch, starting a swift climb back to solid ground.]

If you think of a way, you'd be the first.

Uh.... 'M not so good at thinkin' as I am at smashin'.

[Edward drops down to the ground at last, bending his arm and flexing his fingers to give it a more thorough check now that he's in a safer place to do it. Weird... feels the same as ever. So why the sudden rocket-launching?]

Unless you have some unheard-of barrier-smashing power, you should try to avoid doing anything reckless while you're here.

[Dude, that thing moves. That's awesome.]

Heh, kinda do. Used ta' back in the UG at least. Smashed the hell outta those walls.

[Yep, that's automail for you. It's pretty awesome when it isn't exploding or trying to kill people.]

Walls are easy to break if you know the composition. The barrier's completely different.

Nah, we had walls like yo' barrier. Clear like water, hard as hell.

And yo, walls don't write.

[Because composition to him means an essay. Beat is an idiot.]

[....Yep, idiot. Talking to a scientific genius. This is gonna be a great conversation.]

No, I mean- ...Composition is what it's made of. It has nothing to do with writing.

[That first part he talked about is interesting to hear though, so-]

Anything else you can tell me about those walls?

Oh. [This is news to Beat. Wonderful news that he will forget in three...

two...

one...

Gone.]

Huh? The walls? Eh, made by Reapers, put up to herd Players 'round where they need 'em to go or keep 'em outta places they ain't supposed ta' be. Got lots a' levels. Some're easier to bust down than others. I punched the hell outta one of 'em! Felt damn good, too.

[.....All of that? Made absolutely zero sense to Edward. Great. So much for that being helpful.]

Try visiting the barrier sometime and see what happens when you punch it, then.

[And don't complain overmuch when all you do is break your hand.]

Might hafta. Yo' friend's out there.

[So he starts turning around, looking out across the town.]

....So where it at?

All over the place. Pick a direction and keep walking until you hit an invisible wall.

[Well alright, that's mean and generally unhelpful. And even if this guy is dumb as a sack of bricks, his heart is apparently in the right place. Let's try again:]

I've heard that the southern barrier is the easiest to reach.

South, huh? Aight. So what's she look like? Gotta know who I'm lookin' for in case I get through.

Wha- you're serious!?

[He's going to randomly walk to the barrier to try and find a girl he doesn't even know? That's crazy.]

I said I'd go find her so Imma go find her! I ain't no liar!

[...Huh. Still an idiot, but one with good intentions. In that case-]

Fine, I'm coming with you.

[On the off chance that this guy does make it through the barrier, well. He's sure as hell not leaving Winry's rescue up to him.

Besides, he just happens to be Ed's kind of stupid, in this instance.]

Tight! Yo we can't make pacts here, but we partners on this! I ain't gonna let you down!

[And the pact part makes no sense to Edward (again) but he's cool with the partners bit. After so long working with Alphonse, going solo just doesn't feel the same. Onward to adventure, then!]

Right! I'm Edward, by the way.

[Be so glad your name is easy to shorten, Ed. Or else you'd be Blondie or Shorty.]

Ed, huh? Aight, I'm Beat.

Le's do this.

["Shorty" would've made this the longest trip ever, that's for sure. Instead, Edward nods, turning and heading off into the woods, moving south. Let's walk and talk, partner.]

So you just got here?

[Walk? Auuuugh, Beat was all ready to run his ass down to the barrier, but alright. He'll walk. He learned his lesson after Rhyme. Sorta.]

Yeah, just this week.

Yo, we betta' pick up the pace. Don't wanna be late.

[Well he can run if he wants, but it's a pretty long trek |D Sometimes it's best to leave it up to the experts.]

How long can you run? The barrier isn't just around the corner or anything.

Pretty damn long. [As in, across a city no problem.] Why? You can't?

I didn't say that. [But running apparently runs the risk of activating some ridiculous rollerskates that Winry installed. And he's already humiliated himself enough today. Though if this guy pushes for it...]

There ain't no Reapers or Noise to take us out, so why not? I'll race ya!

[...Rrgh. Why did he see that coming. But he could use a distraction, and the sooner the reach the barrier, the sooner he can see whether or not Beat's ability is of any use.]

...Fine then... you're on!

[And Beat better be quick on the uptake, because Edward's taking off in the direction of the barrier now.]

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