automailed | [Video / Action]

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[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

[Mouthful name. Well at least Leon is easy to remember. And a fellow scientist! Colour him interested.]

What kind of science?

A little bit of everything, but my main focus is on Heraldry -- or Symbology, as I've also heard it called. [But that wouldn't mean anything to Ed, would it?] It's kinda similar to alchemy in that there's a symbol component, but the symbols are completely different. [And that doesn't even touch upon how different the outputs were for their different kinds of alchemy.]

That's from your world, then? What kind of things can you do with Symbology?

[Man, this is like learning about alkahestry. So much he doesn't know!]

[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.

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!]

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.~~]

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's said that anyone can tap into the power of Heraldry at some level, which is why some people can create elaborate special attacks. But for the big, effective "magic spells," you need to have a natural talent. And the tattoos.

Tattoos? What, like the transmutation circles? A lot of alchemists end up getting theirs tattooed because it's more convenient to have it on hand all the time.

Yeah, like transmutation circles. All of the elements are tattooed on a person with the talent, and they learn how to harness the needed energy. Specialty is unique to each person; a Heraldic mage--a Symbologist--learns their strengths pretty early on, and they focus on the elements they can invoke the best.

[Ooh, nice.] Sounds like a useful skill to have.

Yeah. [He's proud of his world's "magic."] But your world's alchemy is interesting, too. From the way Al talked about it, it's pretty important in your world.

It's mostly just in Amestris, as far as I know. Other countries have similar sciences, but it's different from the alchemy I use.

How different is it? It's not something you can replicate the effects of with your own alchemy?

The method of using it is different- something about the "flow of the dragon's pulse", but that makes no sense to any Amestris alchemist. Their type of alchemy has healing properties, too; I can't do that.

[Not without a Philosopher's Stone, anyway, and who wants to use that.]

...Huh. [Yeah, that "flow of the dragon's pulse" makes no sense to him, either.] Sounds like something your country would benefit from trading information about. Unless that's already happening.

We've... tried. It's harder than we thought it would be. But we know it's been done before - combining one alchemy with another - so that's the end goal eventually.

[Kind of have to save the country first, eh-heh.]

Well, as long as you're trying. It sounds like at least the ability to heal would be a great addition to your country's alchemy. [It sorta reminded him of how the Nedians, like Rena, knew healing Heraldry while Expellians did not.]

Yeah, it would definitely come in handy. Maybe if it wasn't so damn hard to make any sense of it.

[Seriously what the hell is the "Dragon's Pulse".]

Sounds interesting, at least. If you had the time to sit around and research it. [Could take years, but who knows?

...But he's getting sidetracked here.] How's the arm looking?

Wh- oh geez, I forgot it was even off. [The downside of being ridiculously focused on alchemy when the topic comes up, apparently. He tugs the arm free of his coat, giving it a shake.] Not dripping anymore, so it's probably okay. [And he snaps it back in place - ow, yeah, seems okay - before moving it around to confirm. No problems here, phew.]

[It's much harder for Leon to forget the fact that Ed is holding his metal arm, since he's not used to it, but he also managed to get distracted by the topics.]

...Now I'm gonna have to ask about your arm sometime. You made reconnecting it look effortless.

You should ask Winry, not me. She's the mechanic, I just know how to use it. Connecting it usually isn't so easy, either, but the nerves are here- [He briefly rubs his shoulder.] I guess as long as this part stays connected, the rest isn't as hard to take off.

[Which is kind of the problem, what with it flying off at peoples' heads.]

It's a clever modification. [...Er.] N-- not that having an out-of-control rocket arm sounds like any fun.

Yeah, I'm sure it'd be real helpful. [Can you sense the sarcasm?] Never be unconscious around an automail mechanic.

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