scorched

[braided_icarus]

I can survive without Al and Winry, you know.

[He doesn't like it, but he can and will manage without them if he has to.]

Besides, thought there were a couple that might want to bring in Al, right? So, just need to find Winry. Be nice to have some back up if my arm gets busted, especially since Varon's gone.

Comments

[alkahestic]

Maybe you shouldn't break it, if that's what you're worried about.

[braided_icarus]

I'm not gonna break it on purpose, idiot! I'm just saying....in case something happens.

[Give him some credit? It's never on purpose. Except that one time with Lan Fan where he just ripped it off and used it in his trap, but it was already busted then anyway. :l]

[alkahestic]

[ Who's Lan Fan? And he totally does give him credit! He's just thinking of his best interests in hopes of preventing any future wrench induced concussions... ]

If you say so, Brother. You know Winry will worry anyway.

[braided_icarus]

[That one Idiot Prince's bodyguard. But you should just be glad you didn't have to deal with them, okay? Mooching squinty eyes.....]

Yeah. I know. You'd think she'd worry more about the flesh parts as well as the auto-mail. But at least there's the clinic for that. I guess I'll just have to ask if there are any mechanics there that wouldn't mind taking a look. If I do end up needing it, anyway.

[Yes, Ed would much rather avoid wrenchings, but at least they were not as frequent lately.]

[alkahestic]

[ Never heard of him. But he's sure the guy is nicer than Ed is making him out to be. ]

She worries about both all the time. You are taking good care of yourself, right?

[braided_icarus]

[You know how well your brother plays and gets along with others, Al. It's just Ed being Ed.]

Yeah, yeah. Besides the incident with Isley, I've been fine. Had to be careful since Winry's not there and all. It'd be fine if I had some backup but I think Varon's gone so I need to figure something else out now, at least until Winry shows up again.

[alkahestic]

[ Yeah, it's a wonder he has any friends at all... I mean what. ]

...Isley? Has that place been really rough on you? [ A worried hum. ] I'll try to convince my mun a bit more to finish her app. That way you won't be alone.

[braided_icarus]

[Friends. What is this word. He has henchmen like those chimera dudes and annoying moochers like Ling following him around. I mean.]

He's someone I've been helping research this Anatole place and the Door. There was this...I dunno, monster event thing. I stopped his one from attacking some civilians and it took a couple of bites at me. I'm fine now though. Besides that I've not really been involved in anything too dangerous other than sparring.

[Not that he doesn't give them reason to worry, but really Al. You are as fussy and worrywart as Winry sometimes.]

[alkahestic]

[ Apparently not a word in his genius level vocabulary. ]

The Door... [ brb filing any further comments on that away for later. ] I'm glad you weren't too badly hurt. It's good you're keeping safe. But I hope you haven't been slacking off too much.

[braided_icarus]

[He knows of it. Just does not use it so loosely as others? Or something.]

The Door is what brings people here or takes them back home. But I've been keeping myself busy, you know how restless I get, Al. I've been researching and helping with the Search and Rescue with the Lieutenant, along with offering to help where I can with the clinic. Hermione's been teaching me some Runes and stuff too, though she's taking a break after Lupin died for a bit.

[As much of a break as someone like her or Ed can have, anyway. Aka she buries herself in research for distraction. Ed on the other hand went and punched at his walls a few times before wandering off to find Tali when he found Al and Winry had gone.]

[alkahestic]

[ He knows his brother's tendency to... relieve frustration quite well and he frowns a bit at the mention of a death. Ed doesn't say it, but Al figures his brother was likely affected as well. It prompts a slight, concerned frown. ]

I'm sorry, Brother. That Lupin person must've been important. You shouldn't have to face that alone. Is Hermione alright, though? She seems like a nice person.

[braided_icarus]

[Yeah. If Al comes he'd probably notice a few slight dents in his walls where Ed punched at them in his room. But it could have been worse.]

I didn't know him and Tonks too well myself but I saw them around the clinic and all. Hermione was pretty close to them though, and she mentioned they were....dead back home. She's managing okay though, considering. Death's not permanent there though so....they'll be back.

[alkahestic]

[ He'll be more worried about the state of Ed's fists... after he sees about repairing the walls. ]

It isn't? But... How is that possible?

[ Everything in their life had been about the permanence of death. Aside from the whole... using the Philosopher's Stone bit, but those were extenuating circumstances. For the moment, he's recalling a bloodstained teddy bear and his brother's cautions that the dead can never be brought back to life. ]

[braided_icarus]

[The auto-mail one is probably fine and by the time Al got there his other would likely just be healing, a bit grazed. He hasn't bothered repairing the walls dents yet.]

I don't know. But the fact is that the Door somehow bypasses Equivalency in that regard. It can pull people from any time, even after death. Still not sure how, but if I can figure that out....then I can figure a way to get your body back to normal, back home I mean.

[It still took some...adjusting, especially when he saw that Hughes was there, and Trisha showed up.]

[alkahestic]

[ Oh, Ed... Sometimes, it's too easy to forget that this Ed is not the Ed he knows. The banter and feeling always the same. Especially now when he can see a flicker of grief in his brother's face. Without him and without Winry... was this how his own brother had felt when he'd been trapped on the other side of the Gate?

For now, he manages an encouraging smile. A smile, something not possible in a suit of armor. ]

I know you will, Brother. You definitely will, see? It doesn't matter which world we're from, I know you'll always find a way.

[braided_icarus]

[A smile. Their mother's, their desire to see it again had been the start of everything. He'd been searching for years to find a way to get Al his body back to see his brother's smile again. Seeing it, Ed can't help but return it.]

I'll...figure something. I mean, I promised I'd get you your body back. And I will. Whatever it takes. Figure a way without using the Stone.

[....Because clearly he hadn't likely broken however many of those as a kid. But still, this once he had been serious on keeping.]

[alkahestic]

[ His own smile hitches up a bit more (but it doesn't quite meet his eyes thanks to the mention of the Stone; after all, he'd been willing to use it for Ed's sake...) and he nods. ]

Mm! And I'll definitely find a way to restore you too!

[ And even if he knows his own sacrifice will be in vain (so-to-speak), he's certain this Ed's brother will find a way. Just like he's certain Ed will do so as well. Broken childhood promises mean nothing when he knows this is the one Ed will certainly keep. ]

[braided_icarus]

[Yeah, but Ed told Al they would find another way, something that didn't require using the Stone, the lives of others to fix the mistake they had made. And he hadn't been as desperate, Al hadn't -died- on him like Ed had for this Al.]

I can get by with the auto-mail, Al. It's you I've been wanting to get restored.

[They would always find a way. And no sacrifice was in vain, not when they lived for each other and promises to keep. Serious promises.]

[spacepheasant]

Your arm? Seems like a pretty easy do-it-yourself job if y'ask me.

[alkahestic]

[ There was also the little detail that the Truth accepted alchemy in exchange. If only either of them had known that... ]

But auto-mail has its problems too, Brother. [ Stern look. ] Does it still make your muscles ache sometimes? You've been doing your stretches, right?

[ And hell, if he had another chance, he'd want to restore Ed's limbs (again). Though the extents he might go to achieve that might be a bit more questionable than what limits Ed might have. ]

[braided_icarus]

It's not. I can do maintenance okay but actual repairs are beyond me. For obvious reasons....

[Pulling up his sleeve a little to show the auto-mail.]

[braided_icarus]

[Yeah. There was that.]

A little, but it's not anything I haven't gotten used to by now, Al. It's fine. I've been sparring and stuff so I'm not doing too badly.

[Just a little more questionable, yeah. But Ed is oblivious to that and the circumstances surrounding it for now.]

[spacepheasant]

You got a mouth, doncha? Get some string to keep stuff tied up instead of holdin' it. Maybe try some chewin' gum.

[Because that will make up for another arm. Obviously.]

[braided_icarus]

.....What?

[spacepheasant]

Just hold stuff in your mouth, and keep parts together with some chewin' gum! What, y'never improvised a little before?