re: dusting off old muse and considering caligo

[alkahestic]

It's nice to talk to you again, Miss Mun! Brother really has been keeping you busy. I hope he hasn't been too rude, though. If he has, I'm sorry. Brother doesn't really mean it.

I'm glad you're thinking of sending me somewhere, but I have a question. What's a "persona"? Isn't that like a personality? I don't understand what it has to do with cards...

Comments

[paintedelric]

[Here Al, have a considerably taller Edward in jeans in a t-shirt. Staring at you kind of funny.] Al... What are you wearing?

[alkahestic]

[ Um, excuse you, Big Brother, but what are you wearing? Also— ]

Brother— You grew.

[paintedelric]

[The same thing he always wears, okay. Well. Except for the lab coat, but that's a detail for another day.

Especially because Ed's wondering if his little brother hit his head since they last saw each other or something.

Have a quirked eyebrow] What are you talking about, Al..? We just saw each other--

[Yeah, okay- nevermind. Not a good topic to bring up. He's just going to clear his throat awkwardly and hope for a subject change to magically appear out of thin air.]

[alkahestic]

Mm, we did... Maybe it was the Gate that made Brother taller?

[ Speaking of just seeing each other... A sudden, indignant scowl forms on Al's lips and he reaches out to give Ed a punch on the older boy's arm. Not too hard, of course. He couldn't bring himself to truly hurt Ed. ]

So that's for trying to leave me behind, you— You jerk!

[paintedelric]

[Gate-? What was he -- okay, Ed's just going to blink at the scowl, bringing a hand up to the arm where Al punched. By now maybe Al's noticed the lack of automail...]

Ow- [Okay, it didn't really hurt - but it was more surprise than anything. And honestly, Alphonse could probably do more damage with an unintentional punch than his own brother could.] Al, what are you.... talking about?

I didn't-- [You broke up with him, remember?]

wait, is this about me moving out? I didn't know you were holding a grudge over that... [They had talked about it.]

[alkahestic]

[ Oh yes... the lack of automail does make him pause. This is definitely getting weirder. Excuse him for a moment as he reaches forward to make a grab that that surprisingly not automail arm. ]

Brother... this is weird! What are you talking about? What happened to your automail? How did you— What transmutation did you do? Why are you talking about moving out anyway? You tried to leave me and the colonel in Amestris!

[ He's getting a little out of breath, going through all of this so fast. Pausing to catch it again, he tugs off a white glove with odd markings stitched into he palms so that he can press a palm to Ed's forehead. Yep, he's checking for a fever. ]

Are you... sure you're feeling okay?

[paintedelric]

Alex, what are you doing? [Because his brother grabbing at his arm like that is definitely weird. What was he even talking about, anyway?] Nothing you're saying is making any sense! I didn't leave you, who the hell is the Colonel-? [what does any of that mean?]

[Edward jerks back as his not-brother checks for a fever, scowling slightly again. Al's the one that was always sick! And he was the laid back Elric... So much for that.

By this point he'd tried to forget about that damn journal, so if Al mentioned any of this it wasn't registering. At least not yet.




but... Al had grabbed his arm. He looks down at it as if that would answer the questions racing through his mind] You mean grandpa's metal arm-?

[Wait a minute.





Yep.




Now he's just staring.]

[alkahestic]

[ Alex? As Ed jerks away, so does he, and eyes like quicksilver widen dramatically.

This isn't his brother at all. The lack of automail should've been the first clue. The second being called by a name that isn't his. And finally, the mention of a grandfather... They never knew their grandparents.

He doesn't understand. What's going on and why is this happening? Who is this other boy and why does he look so much like his brother?

Quietly, so quietly and with a hint of fear: ]

My name isn't Alex... Who— Who are you?

[paintedelric]

[So the idea that his brother might be having some sort of hallucination from some fever he probably had at the moment wasn't going to hold water after that reaction.

Edward's voice doesn't mirror the other's fear - but there's a disbelief in his tone, as if he really really wanted to believe anything but the reality in front of him.] ... This has to be a dream.

All that talk about that damn journal-

[but Al wants an answer, doesn't he? He's thinking fast at this point, because he doesn't actually want to fry his grandfather's brain... Assuming this actually was his grandfather.

This. was too weird.


So very, very softly.] You wouldn't believe me if I told you.

[He could really use a cigarette right now.]

[alkahestic]

Journal?

[ Expression shifting to one of concern mixed with clear attempts at trying to apply logic to this mess, Al hesitates, and then takes a step closer. So this other boy isn't out to hurt him or anything but knows about him... How does this "Ed" know him without him knowing "Ed"?

Maybe...

Wide eyes blink, brows furrow, and he gives the taller boy a bit of a pleading look. ]

Tell me, please? You... look just like Brother. Are you the Ed from the other side of the Gate? Brother told me there's another version of me over there too. If that's it, you can tell me. I'll believe you. Did you meet Brother? Are you friends?

[paintedelric]

[Oh god, what is that look.

This is a horrible mess.

Okay. Okay, think Elric. You can do this.

It's only harder to tell someone something they're not going to believe, when they try so hard to assure you that they will. Only they have the wrong idea about what you're going to say. Very. Wrong idea.]

Look, I don't- know... anything for certain, okay. And this is going to sound crazy. [And now he's running fingers through his hair in aggravation, how was he going to explain this....]

If I'm right... I might- actually- be your grandson...

[alkahestic]

Grandson...

[ The word hangs on his lips with a mixture of awe and confusion. Grandson. It means quite a lot, one of which was that at some point in his future, he has a child. Or children. A family... The thought prompts a faint blush under his cheeks.

He gets married. That had been on his list of things to do once he got his body back...

But that also leaves the question of his own brother. Where would he be in all this? If he gets married, it must be on the other side of the Gate too. So who does he marry?

He doesn't even stop to think that the other boy is lying.

After a few seconds mulling all this over, he blinks a few times, managing a bit of a nervous smile at first that soon blooms into bright curiosity. ]

Wow... Really? Who is your grandmother? Did I have a son or a daughter? Do I have more than one? What do Brother and I do on the other side of the Gate? Is Brother married too? Does he have any grandchildren? Do you come visit often? Do you have any siblings?

Geeze, no wonder you're taller than Brother. I've always been a little taller than him. He'd be mad if he heard me say that though.

[paintedelric]

[Well that... was not the response he was expecting. And Alphonse is just so happy over the concept of having this family that Ed can't keep up with the bombardment of questions.

Which... could be a good thing. Because maybe, he can answer a few and leave the others for Al never to know.

He rubs at the back of his neck awkwardly. Could really use a cigarette right about now.] I never really... knew Grandma Elric. She died- a long time ago.

[Pause. Mulling.] You had a son- my dad. Probably shouldn't tell you his name, I wouldn't want to change the course of history or something... [or, well maybe he would but- he'd really rather not potentially risk killing off his whole family in the process.

He blushes faintly, thinking about the journal - but just shakes his head before speaking again. Cautiously.


Anyway, on to a happier topic... maybe.] There's three of us. Alex and Rosie are both younger than me.

[Another pause.


Awkward. Blushing again.] ... he looks just like you.

[alkahestic]

[ Nodding as Edward speaks, he can't help the slight blush and thoughtful smile that forms on his lips. It sounds sad to hear that his future wife dies, but it's part of life. All is one, one is all. And it's the knowledge that they'll have three grandchildren that makes it seem worth it.

He wonders what his brother would think. He wonders if his brother would live with him and his wife. After being separated for two years, it's hard for him to imagine anything else.

After this moment of thought, he gives his future grandson a soft and gentle smile. ]

And you look just like Brother. Are you two very close? What does Rosie look like? Rose is a nice name... Like Miss Rose.

[ The smile morphs into one of reminisce. ]

Thank you for telling me this. Sometimes I'm afraid I made the wrong choice, following Brother to the other side of the Gate. Beyond the Gate seems like a scary place. But... I'm glad I did. I didn't want Brother to be alone again. And now I know things work out for us. Together.