[Voice / Action] backdated to JANUARY 13th

[automailed]

[...So it's been a week. A full week since his parents had shown up in Luceti. And as of today, with the last bit of furniture in place, he and Al are officially "moved in". At least, in the sense of physically living there. Edward still finds himself looking out the window an awful lot and double-taking at the house number across the street, and at least three times now he's turned to approach the door of the Hughes' household instead of his own. He hasn't barged in unintentionally yet, at least. That would have been awfully embarrassing.

He's still not sure how he feels about this... home life. Thing. Adjustment is one thing, but actually coming to expect his mother's smiling face when he walks through the front door? It's a little scary. Wonderful in a lot of ways, but...

And that's not even getting into the issue of living so close to Hohenheim for this long, something he hasn't done since early childhood. And despite promising to give the man a chance, their relationship is tenuous at best, violent at its worst. He's still not calling the man "father", either. And there's poor Al in the middle, still stuck in his wheelchair... dammit...

Well, let's just say he's in desperate need of some distraction. So after giving it some thought, he turns to the journal-]

Hey, got a question for anyone listening out there-

I was talking to this kid a while back - Aoba - and something came up. Do we have some kind of directory of all the worlds people are from? I don't mean that world sharing class, I mean actual maps of all the different worlds, or countries within those worlds, or whatever.

Because if there isn't, then I'd like to make one. So if you wanna get involved, talk about where you're from here- show a map, gimme an idea of what it's like. I'll take what I can get.


[A little while later, he'll be venturing to his usual hotspots- the library, for some books for poor Al to read, and the Battle Dome, to take out some of his pent-up frustrations (and to duke it out with a few of the homunculus for kicks), then to the shops for a bit of perusing. He can be pestered around down at any time, looking uncharacteristically unsure, though he's been looking that way all week, so at this point it may not be anything new.

Eventually he'll return home to his family some time before dinner, carrying with him (in addition to Al's books) a toolbox, a bag containing some clothes, and a collection of sticky buns for dessert/snacking-

...but not before barging into the Hughes house accidentally. Apparently there really is a first time for everything.]

Comments

[hohenheim]

By worlds? Alright, that seems simple enough.

[ Idly glancing through each page, Hohenheim placed all of the notes on "Earth" in one pile and then some notes about other more exotic worlds in the other. Of course he read some of the notes while he worked, which lead to this awkward series of small talk. ]

...In all these different worlds, do you believe there's a person who looks, acts, and even thinks just like you do? Or do you view yourself as completely unique regardless of worlds or dimension, Edward?

[automailed]

[Edward purses his lips at that, his eyes narrowing. There are a couple of ways he could answer that, and none of them make him particularly comfortable, but avoiding it entirely would just seem suspicious.

Well, as long as no one tells Hohenheim about the... unfortunate incident with the Malnosso a few months back, he'll be alright.]

I don't have any reason not to believe it; it's already been proven. There's another version of me out there- and Al, and probably you, too.

[hohenheim]

[ Buwh? What unfortunate incident with the Malnosso? Aw, no one is going to tell Hoho about that? A shame. ]

There is?

[ Edward could just tell by his father's tone alone that he didn't expect that answer. ]

Well, that's certainly...interesting. Is he anything like you?

[automailed]

[A casual shrug. Yes, stick to the alternate boy-him. Nevermind that silly girl self with her silly name and her silly stupid crush on the colonel.

...Ugh.]

Dunno, I never met him. I only heard about him and his version of Al from Winry and a few other people- that Al was in Luceti before I got here. Supposedly in that world, the Gate of Truth is a passageway to travel to a different world- Earth, the one that keeps showing up in my notes.

[hohenheim]

Really?

[ Now that's food for thought. Never before did he ever come up with the concept of the Gate of Truth acting as a passageway to another world. From what Hohenheim believed the Gate of Truth to be solely lied on it being a beacon of endless information. ]

If that's true, then perhaps all the worlds listed here are perhaps connected to each other by their own respective gates.

[automailed]

[It's certainly an interesting theory, but there's a few holes that makes him uncomfortable.]

If it's a gateway to other worlds, then what about the toll?

[hohenheim]

[ After allowing an uncomfortable silence to settle between them both, Hohenheim finally replied. ]

Maybe the price is "existence" itself.

[automailed]

But you'd still exist to an extent on the original world- people carry memories of you, just like we remember the ones who've been sent home from here. The gate's always taken something physical, or at least tangible- a body part, or the souls that make up a Philosopher's Stone. Can it take something as specified as memories or abilities?

[They've never seen the limits of what that Truth guy will accept, because they've never gotten the chance to actually choose it. But what if they could?

What if... he could give up something like that for Al's body? How much is it worth?

And yeah, he's... kind of going on a mental tangent. But his question is pretty relevant, at least.]

[hohenheim]

Considering that the Gate itself possesses the knowledge of the vast known universe and beyond, one can speculate that the Gate of Truth can take specific memories or abilities as payment on basic principle of it being all-knowing.

[ While has no idea either how far Truth will go to balance the scales, Hohenheim certainly hopes that Edward isn't eager to find out. He already almost lost one son due to the Gate, he won't lose another. ]

Let's use me as an example, Edward. If I was to desire something in high enough toll, I believe I would be forced not to exist at all or at least give up something defined me as a person.

[automailed]

[This... is so weird. Discussing alchemy with Hohenheim. Maybe- maybe even learning?

...No, that's ridiculous. It's a simple conversation between two adults. More or less.]

But if you stop existing in one world and end up in another, that's not Equivalent Exchange- you're not giving up anything of your own.

[If that's true, is the law they've always followed wrong? Or is it just that alternate universe?]

[hohenheim]

[ It took him a moment to answer that but once he did, Edward just might learn something from his words. ]

Since when is "life" itself ever fair, Edward?

[ He pinned his gaze on the boy. ]

If you were "Truth" and knew everything about the universe, would you play fair with someone who doesn't? No, not even. If you knew everything, how could you play fair?

[automailed]

...No. Apparently being "Truth" gives you free reign to be an asshole.

[Life sure as hell isn't fair, there's no denying that. But maybe that suffering is the exchange one gets for life itself.

It's not like life is without reward, either...]

[hohenheim]

[ He jerked a little at the harsh language used. ]

Edward, mind yourself. Your mother might hear you.

[automailed]

[....Seriously, you're scolding him for that? Lame, Hohenheim. Lame.]

So what? I'm not gonna mince words about that bastard.

[hohenheim]

[ Well, someone has to! Edward has such a filthy mouth these days. ]

Believe me, I feel the same. However you're a young man now, not a child. You and I both know that the Truth itself isn't our enemy nor our friend. It is merely the truth. Whether we choose to accept it as true or not, is entirely up to us.

[ Unsure if his words would accidentally upset Edward or now, Hohenheim decided to shut up for now and just focus on sorting the papers. ]

[automailed]

[He is gloriously filthy, ayup.

Edward does scowl over at Hohenheim, though; he's not interested in a lecture, nor does he want to hear about the lack of good or evil in the being known as Truth. He shows up out of nowhere, steals his brother and his body parts, and gloats about it. Nothing will ever convince him that Truth is anything but an asshole.

The silence is probably a wise choice on Hohenheim's part, at least until he cools down, so Edward grits his teeth and, for the moment, holds his tongue. But he looks good and annoyed for a while.]

[hohenheim]

[ After a moment of silence, Hohenheim finally finds the courage to speak but he makes the wise decision to choose his words carefully. ]

...While Truth may seem to know everything, I believe there might be one way to defeat it at its' own game.

Think, son. What's one thing you can live without for the rest of your life?

[automailed]

You think I haven't been trying to figure that out for a long time now already!? [Edward abruptly stands, one hand braced firmly on the desk, crumpling the papers.] If it was that simple I'd have done it! But Al won't even let me try!

[It's hard to even bounce ideas off a brother who doesn't want him to give anything up for this.]

[hohenheim]

That was not what I was trying to say.

[ Hohenheim merely sighed as the boy flared up in anger. He could sympathize with Edward's frustration but was it so hard for him to understand why his brother wouldn't want him to try? Truth is all knowing, which makes it virtually invincible. There's no way in Edward's current state of mind could he possibly find a way to trump the Gate of Truth without being forced to sacrifice more than he will gain. ]

Can you blame him, Edward? For the longest time the two of you only had each other to rely on. Do you really think your little brother will be willing to sacrifice you? As long as there is a slim chance for error, Alphonse won't want you to do it.

[ He frowned. ]

However, Alphonse doesn't seem understand that it's your duty to persist despite the danger. After all you're supposed to protect him, am I right? This is what older brothers do.

[automailed]

I know that. [After failing Al so badly before, how could he possibly forget? He's supposed to protect Al. He always has.

Why else would he have given up an arm to bring him back...?]

Look, I got his body back already. I did it! What the hell do you expect me to do now? Because all I can do is help him.

[hohenheim]

I don't expect--

[ This conversation was going nowhere fast. Try as he might to attempt to convey his thoughts to Edward, the boy refuses to listen nevertheless. Which suited him just fine since Hohenheim himself is struggling to make sense of his own thoughts here. He's been alive for four-hundred years and he can barely piece together his words properly enough not to sound insulting to his son's achievements.

Perhaps he is truly that horrible of a father. ]

[automailed]

[Edward watches him for a moment, annoyance now mixed with confusion, then looks away and returns to sorting his papers. The longer this goes on, the more convinced he is that this was a bad idea.

How the hell are they going to manage this long-term...?]

[hohenheim]

[ Was this really a bad idea? The two of them get along like fire and ice. Drastic measures are needed. ]

Edward.

[ He hesitantly glanced towards him. ]

[automailed]

...What.

[His tone is reluctant and challenging, and he doesn't look up from his work. This better be good.]

[hohenheim]

...I'm sorry.

[ Hopefully this simple apology is worth his while. ]