automailed | [Action]

[When Edward Elric wakes up in the middle of the forest after his kidnapping, he is not quite himself. Outwardly, of course, there is no change- he looks a little more tired, perhaps, as if he's been sleeping poorly, and it seems like he hasn't eaten well for the past month. If asked, he'll complain about a seemingly perpetual hunger that no amount of food seems to satisfy.

Beyond the physical sense, however, he's not Edward at all. Not that he'll let anyone else know about it. There's a homunculus in control of his body, tied by a twisted bloodline, with a maelstrom of wailing voices in the back of his mind, one he's grown so used to over the course of several hundred years that it's nothing but a dull background noise now. With one additional voice that just happens to be louder than all of the others-

"You bastard! You bastard, Pride, give me back my body!! You think I'm going to sit here quietly while you use me like this!? You can't just take over!! You can't shut me up, dammit!!"

But even with all that shouting, all that effort... it's still nothing more than just that: background noise. And he can ignore it, as long as it takes. Homunculi are skilled at such things.

Still- he lingers in the woods for a while, considering his next step. Separated from Amestris and Father, no goals to be met, no Promised Day of which to ensure the successful passage, no allies to speak of, and a new body to which he needs to adjust. Fullmetal has friends here, people who would fight him if they knew the truth. And as strong as he is, he can't fight off an entire village of powerful fighters.

The alternative is obvious, and not, he assumes, difficult. He's spent more than fifty years pretending to be a young child; a teenage alchemist shouldn't be that hard.

When he finally makes it into the village, his first step is not to head back to his own house. Truth be told, he's not certain where that house is. His priority instead is getting himself a good meal, and for his current stomach, that means ordering a lot. So "Edward" can be found in Seventh Heaven for most of the afternoon, eating enough food to fill about five people, minimum. With a bit of directional help, he'll be heading to the smithy to look for Winry, then home itself. He can be pestered in any of those locations, in the woods, or in the village somewhere on the way. He's been gone for a month, so his sudden return is something to celebrate, right...?]

(ooc: like the post says, Ed's basically shifted to an AU where Pride took over his body in volume 26 of his canon. This means that his body is that of a human-based homunculus, and has the strengths and weaknesses of Pride and (to a lesser extent) Gluttony. The journal

prided may occasionally be used for special icons, but he'll be keeping his true identity on the down-low as much as possible. If your character can sense multiple souls or other such things, please contact me! It would suck to spoil the surprise to everyone before it's time |D)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The second Edward returned the Luceti, Ran Fan sensed him. She, of course, had no idea it was him, but she could sense the souls in him.

Her chest tightened, because for a moment there she thought it could be Ling, but she knew that couldn't be. New feathers weren't showing up right now, so there was n way it was him. But then, if it was a new feather, then who could it be?

Quickly, she headed out to see who was out there. Knowing this place, it could be something else completely. But when she reached Edward, using the trees to travel, she knew exactly what was going on.

She hopped down, automailed up and ready to attack. Just in case.]

Who are you?

[He doesn't recognize her face, but the outfit is familiar; more than that - and the one thing that keeps him from pretending to be Edward - is the scent that he knows immediately, thanks to having swallowed Gluttony's Philosopher's Stone. The Xingese warrior, the one whose arm Wrath had severed. One of the four with the ability to sense the presence of homunculus. This complicates things. He hadn't expected her.

Knowing that faking it is pointless, he offers up a cold smile, his eyes shadowed.]

You're a brave one, facing me alone like this, knowing what I am.

[She glared from behind her mask. That wasn't the answer she was looking for, so her free hand slipping into her armor to grab a bomb to use, just in case.]

You did not answer my question. [Still being very defensive and not letting her guard down.] Who are you?

[He doesn't look the least bit threatened or intimidated, but he doesn't make a move to attack her, either. This should be handled delicately- apparently they're living together, and that has all the potential in the world to be more difficult than any other deception he's attempted before.]

You're in no position to be making demands.

And you believe you are? Who are you?

[Ran Fan is getting awfully annoyed. If he doesn't answer this time, then she was going to attack.]

[He expected her to be stubborn, if not outright stupid about it. The Xingese warriors he's experienced in the past, skilled as they are, have often been reckless in attacking homunculus more powerful than themselves. As if willpower really matters in the end.

He also knows their arsenal, though, so he's not about to take her lightly, either. Taking a moment to sniff the air to ensure that they're alone, he allows a few tendrils of his shadow-limbs to spread out around his feet, edging closer to her.]

Allow me to give you a few hints.

[Oh hi! She remembers you.]

That child. [Which she said more to herself.

But she jumped back and away from the shadows.]

Harming me would be useless. Death is not permanent here.

Hardly a child.

[The shadows don't pursue her, but they remain out, twisting together across the ground between the both of them. His voice takes on the distorted, echoing resonance that Pride had in Selim's body, though it's a twisted version of Ed's voice rather than a little boy's.]

I hadn't planned on killing you. That would be a waste of time. But since you're able to detect my presence, this complicates things, doesn't it? Since I have no intention of revealing myself to anyone. You're a liability to me.

[His brow quirks.]

Your move, human.

[She would attack, but that doesn't seem like the best plan. After all, there is no reason attack right now.]

It will only take me a second to warn people here of your presence, and then everyone will be against you.

[AHA! She is so clever.]

[It's cute how she thinks that.]

Do you really think it's wise to not only tell me your plans, but antagonize me by revealing my identity? Is a fight with the most powerful homunculus of all something you really want to instigate, in a village full of innocents?

[The shadows around him spread, still not attacking, but obviously meant to emphasize his unspoken threat.]

You do not know the people of this village. You do not know how strong they can be. It is unwise to assume you will defeat them so easily. Some have powers you have never seen before. A simple call, and they will know who you are and what you can do.

[Being here for over a year has really taught her to hold back.]

I doubt you know the full extent of my abilities, either. Especially in this body.

[Even with Fullmetal uncooperative, he still possesses a body that has seen the Truth, and he's absorbed an alchemist who understands human transmutation. Not to mention Kimblee, as well. Alchemy is no secret to him, and it's a powerful weapon on its own.]

And even assuming they could defeat me, how many of them do you suppose I could take with me before I fell? What would my retribution be? After all, as you said, death is not permanent. Even for a homunculus.

I do not mean that we shall kill you, merely subdue you. If I recall, they were able to do just that at home, so it can be something we can do here. With many different powers, I am sure we can thin of something.

I see, I see.

[He doesn't seem by this, anyway, by the smile that remains unmoving on his lips.]

It's a shame about Winry and the little girl, then. I hadn't planned to hurt anyone, but now...

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