automailed | [Voice / Action]

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[Now that he's gotten over his own embarrassment somewhat-]

...So that's what an experiment is like, huh.

[Okay, maybe not entirely over it. That was beyond humiliating and he doesn't even want to acknowledge it anymore. Ugh.]

Whatever, forget it. I have a question for the people who've lived here longer than me. What kind of escape attempts have already happened here? Has anything worked, or even showed small signs of success? If it's not something you want to talk about over the journals, you can find me at the library.

Thanks in advance.

[...Oh right, before he forgets again-]

And if anyone finds a silver pocketwatch in one of the shops, chances are it's mine. I'd appreciate it if you let me know if you see it.

...Don't look inside, either!

[And as promised Ed will be at the library today, either inside pouring over a dozen books or just outside the entrance, probably munching away at something he pilfered during a visit to the bakery. You know, after he realized he hadn't eaten for seven hours or something. As usual he's probably wearing five different layers despite the heat, the nutter.]

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There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about. I heard something from Haruhi about the last time I was here.

[ unfortunately? not that he had a super hot superhero girlfriend. ]

[Edward's quiet for a moment, glancing away and scuffing a hand through his hair. Oh boy, he was wondering when this would come up.]

About another Al, right? One she knew in Luceti.

[ so ed knew? ... well. ] I knew I was here before ever since I arrived... or, a different me was.

She said he was older than she was, and he wasn't... he had a body.

[He lifts a hand, shaking his head.] Hang on. I looked into it, because I wanted to be sure. That Al- he's not you. Something different happened to him, and a lot of things changed. I think it has something to do with the Gate of Truth. He and... some other version of me ended up in a place called Germany, and that Al got his body back.

[Which sounds like really lousy news, but he's not done yet.]

[ that is incredibly bad news. the armor sags slightly, an unsaid oh in the air... it doesn't mean he doesn't get his body back, of course not, he has faith that he will. but still. an al who had his body back by the time he arrived in this place?

but he knows his brother well enough to know when he's not finished with a monologue.]

[Edward steps over, crouching down to give Al's head a little pat.]

You should talk to Elicia instead, Al. She's from two years in the future- our future. And she says that she knows an older you, one who doesn't wear armor.

[SEE LITTLE BRO ISN'T THAT AWESOME NEWS INSTEAD]

[ ... oh.

oh.

al's head snaps up. there's joy, there's happiness, there's - that same armor face. but then there's a question on his mind, the same question there always is. he can't be happy for himself until that is cleared up. ] What about your limbs?

Me? ...I don't know. [Er... he actually was expecting Al to be happier about that, and he'd spent so much time worrying about Al's body he hadn't even thought about his own. Now that it's been brought up, he's not sure he wants to know the answer.] I wouldn't worry, though, I bet it worked out great for both of us!

[That's pretty much the most concern he's going to show it.]

Brother, you need to worry about yourself too!

[ but that said and out of the way, reminding himself that he wouldn't let ed just forget about getting his own limbs back, that at journey's end, they'll have it all... al's posture changes. he straightens up - and if big brother could read his emotions, there'd be a smile. he looks down at his fingers, flexing them, trying to imagine what it would be like to actually feel that again...

It's so much. It's so much relief, just to know... to know that one day, one day he really will be able to go swimming, to feel, to sleep. his voice nearly breaks when he speaks again, heavy with emotion. ] ... Thank goodness.

[Worry about himself? He's not the one trapped in an unfeeling suit of armor right now, and there's far more at stake than just his body. He can live with automail if he has to make a choice between Al's body and his own.

Edward can't see a smile, obviously, but he knows it's there, because it's Al, and he knows his brother. He shifts his crouch into a sitting position, leaning back with an easy-going grin. "Thank goodness" is one hell of an understatement- for both of them.]

I know, right? It's amazing to think about... finally, after four years, we'll have our bodies back.

I can finally have some of Winry's apple pie! [ and everything in that book! ... oh, he's going to get fat. except he sort of needs to, not that he really knows that right now. ]

And we can finally have a fair race and see who wins then!

[Damn right he hasn't forgotten that race on the beach.]

I'll still beat you! [ no he won't. ]

Ha! We'll see.

[...Not for a while, though. Al's body... it wasn't in any shape to do anything really strenuous for a long while. That makes him wonder- maybe if he ate more, that would transfer to Al's body, and he'd get bigger? He'll have to remember to stop missing meals, then.]

That's one more reason why we really need to get back as soon as we can, though. Staying here just puts off you getting your body back.

Yeah. [ ... but, all things considered, he's uneasy about trying anything until they have all the facts. father could stop alchemy, but he's not sure if the old creature could make a barrier that traps people from all different words inside...

al tilts his head back. he'll be stepping up the research... when should they even try this? ]

[Edward glances over at Al, brows furrowing. He can guess at what Al's hesitating for- he's probably been thinking about much the same thing.]

Don't worry- I'm not going to rush it. It took us a long time to write out the formula for human transmutation, and we still got it wrong. We can't afford to make any mistakes here.

[He hesitates then, because... well, he hasn't been entirely honest with Al yet. He'd explained the escape from Gluttony, sure, but he'd glossed over the how to avoid the repercussions, but... now it's starting to look like they won't have any choice.]

Hey, Al... you know how we got this circle, right? From Gluttony's stomach?

Huh? [ ... the circle? he's about to respond in the affirmative... and then stops. Ed didn't really tell him all that much, come to think of it... he knows it was made and they escaped, but.. ] No... Not really, at least.

[...Yeah, it's time. Edward stands, retrieving his notes and spreading them out on the floor, outlining the circle from Xerxes.]

It's the circle that Father guy used to create his body. Hohenheim explained what happened back then, right?

[If Al knows that much, it should make explaining things much easier.]

[ uhm. nope. you get a slightly confused tilt of his head. ]

I haven't seen dad [ the since lingers in the air, but... well, it'd be more accurate to say. ] yet.

[Bwuh? Edward opens his mouth to protest, then stops and gives it a moment's thought.]

That's right, you're from before... you said you'd probably be going to Lior next, though. He'll be there, he can explain everything.

[Like the asshole that he is, it only took him more than ten years to do it. Whatever, Ed's moving on; he draws the first circle, the one from Xerxes.]

This is what the Father used to make his body. He and the homunculus are carrying the souls of all the people of Xerxes right now, and it's what he's doing to Amestris once the circle's finished.

[Old news to Al, sure, but a recap never hurts. Especially when it delays the unpleasant big guns.]

[ he leans over to study the circle once more for good measure... but he remembers all of this. It hasn't been that long since he found out, after all. ]

[With a nod that's more to himself than Al, Edward continues with the second circle, the template for the one they're modifying now.]

This is how we got out of Gluttony's stomach. It's human transmutation on someone who's already alive- just a matter of deconstructing and remaking myself within the Gate. All we needed was the toll to open it.

[And then he hesitates, because this is the part he didn't tell Al. The part he'd rather have avoided, but they can't keep moving forward without working together. ...So, here goes.]

...Envy was there, so we had a Philosopher's Stone.

[ ... oh. Al takes a moment to consider what they're doing... Obviously, they have Greed to provide them with the needed toll... but freedom, but at the cost of the lives of those poor people.

... but if they don't do something, then the people of Amestris will suffer. And the people here. It's a no-win situation...

But they're not doing it for themselves. They're doing it for everyone... ]

I hope they can forgive us.

[...Well. At least Al didn't get mad at him for it. Edward ducks his head, his gaze fixed on the floor as he mulls that over a bit.]

When I used the stone... I heard a voice. It said, "Thank you."

[He's sure that one soul couldn't speak for the collective, but... maybe it's more cruel to leave them trapped as they are.]

[ it was either lose his brother forever or... he clears his head of those thoughts, looking up... and he can't help but repress a shudder at what that would be like. to have your life stolen from you, then to be used to power creatures who aimed to do the same thing to hundreds of other people.

to... ]

I can't imagine what it would be like... living like that for centuries. [ without hope. without purpose. without a body to return to... it makes his heart ache. ]

When we get back, we should do something for them. [ a memorial... something to show that they weren't forgotten, and their sacrifices weren't for selfish means. even if it was just something tiny in risembool that only they would understand the significance of. they'd never forget that. ]

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automailed - 2011-06-28 02:42 (UTC) - Expand

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truthhides.livejournal.com - 2011-06-28 22:45 (UTC) - Expand

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