armoredsoul | 1st Transmutation | [video] Introductions

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1st Transmutation | [video] Introductions

[Al had taken some time fumbling around with the Gear once he got out of that odd town, testing the buttons and managing to reason his way into making a video post--though he doesn't realize that it is transmitting video yet. Alphonse comes onto the screen sitting at the base of a tree, and actually seems relatively calm about all this. It isn't the first time he's been tossed into a strange new world, though at least the last time he'd meant to go there. Anyone that knows him might notice he seems a bit...young, though.]

Okay, I think it's recording...um, hello! I just got here, and I've read that little book, so I know what we're supposed to be here for, but...does anyone have any information as to how we were transported here? The only method I know to move between worlds like this doesn't...really seem to apply here.

[It looks like he would continue, but his Shinx takes that moment to pounce into his lap and headbutt under his chin--gently, though, and clearly just wanting attention.] Ah, jeez! It's barely been five minutes, can't I pay attention to something else for that long? --um, sorry, my Pokémon is being kind of needy...are they always like this? I know we're supposed to battle them, but this little guy is so much like a little kitten I can't see him fighting anything except his own tail! [And really, he's kind of offended by that concept in general. It's so cruel!!] Um, anyway, if anyone has any information I'd really appreciate it. Thank you!

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[Miss? Really? It's not the first time she's been given that title here, but it still seems odd.]

I would hope so, else I doubt we'd be having this conversation.

Look at you.

[She'd never seen his true physical form before, only knew his face so easily from the parts of his parents that were so clear in his features. He had his body back. Was that due to this world, or had he managed it back home?]

[Al winces, looking incredibly apologetic.] I'm sorry! It's just, other than Winry everyone that's contacted me was... [He bites his lip and glances away. It didn't help the twisting feeling in his stomach that they were dead because of the Elrics, either.] ...I'm sorry.

[But the rest of what Greed says helps explain things a little, and he nods with a small frown.] Yeah, it is. Who did you find out about that from?

I-I know, it's just that the last I knew, you were-- [He cuts himself off abruptly; it's possible Lust isn't from the time of her death, or anywhere near it. She at least seems friendly, so he assumes she's from after Liore, but...he doesn't want to be the one to give that sort of news.]

[But then she gives a much better topic to talk about.] Ah, yeah. I lost a few years physically, but I'll take it over the armor any day.

[Well. That certainly answers whether Al recognizes him.]

[There's a sharp hissing intake of breath from Envy's end. He's been told that the other him is dead plenty of times. But he hasn't been told that by someone who might be from his own timeline. His teeth are gritted in rising anger as he replies.]

No I'm not.

[There's a sneer in his voice as he continues.]

And I could ask the same thing. I've been here for a long time, what are you doing here?

Slipped loose the mortal coil? It apparently didn't stick. I've been here for months now.

Oh, did you? [Lust can't tell. He looks about fourteen or fifteen, to her.] You look well.

...It doesn't matter. Don't worry yourself over it.

[It's Alphonse, so he can't bring himself to admit he'd been willing to die.

He's not going to answer that question, though, choosing instead to ask a question of his own.]

How did you learn about it? It's not exactly common knowledge.

Bullshit, Brother saw you be killed by Dad! He used you to hold the Gate open and get us home!

[Quite frankly, he doesn't care that he's twisting the truth--he's not going to give Envy even the satisfaction of a phyrric victory, not if he can help it.]

It's not like I chose to be anywhere near you again! I was perfectly happy leaving you buried and forgotten in the past!

[Al bites his lip, glancing down.] ...I'm sorry. It was my fault that you were in that situation in the first place.

[Well, considering he should be seventeen right now...] Thanks. You do, too. [He blinks then, and peers closer at the screen.] Wait...your eyes look a little different on this thing. Did something happen?

[Greed, telling Al not to worry is like telling the sky to be green. It just doesn't work. But at least he won't say anything more on that for now.]

Wrath did; he was there when Brother was thrown into the Gate and came back the first time. When Brother fixed me, I lost my memories from being in the armor, so I had no idea where he'd disappeared to. It took two years to finally put the pieces together and try to get him back. [It's the Cliff's Notes version, but he doubts Greed wants to listen to the whole story right now.]

No, it wasn't.

[Lust's voice is firm but not unkind.]

I chose my own situation for my own reasons, and I don't regret it. Any of it. And that's all that needs to be said here and now.

Hmm? Oh. That. I'm human.

[Well that... opens up a lot more questions many of which he isn't sure he wants to know the answers to. There's only so much "and then the world went to hell" stories a guy can take, even an older monster like Greed.]

You're saying Ed ended up stranded on the other side of the Gate?

Yeah. It's...a complicated story. How much do you know of what happened after you and Brother fought at Dante's house?

[You know, so Al knows where to pick up from.]

[Al frowns, but nods, willing to leave it at that for now.] Okay, if you say so.

You--you are? [His surprise quickly turns to a bright smile.] That's great! You finally got what you wanted! And you're happy like this now? [It would kind of suck if it turned out she didn't like being human.]

[......]

I wasn't even aware for sure that we had fought.

[At. Uh. At least that explains who killed him. Better Ed than Dante. He was already going to die without ever having escaped from her, to have her be the one to end his life would have been....]

I know that the military chased Scar into Liore and that Dante was planning on creating the stone there. And then something happened to send the military in.

[He knows what happened. Kimbley died and because Archer is a stupid, reactionary idiot, he retaliated to an assassination by sending in the soldiers and unknowingly setting off the array.

Greed can't blame Archer; he would have the same reaction in that situation. But he's not about to tell Al that.]

After that, things get hazy. I know your father showed upon again at some point [and somehow he's able to keep the contempt out of his voice as he speaks] and that Dante tried to kill him. I know there was some kind of showdown, but not the details.

It's been an adjustment. It isn't as though anything changed but the physical.

You're lying! Do you think I can't tell? That wouldn't happen!

[It can't happen. That after everything, that bastard would kill him and they'd all go home to live happy lives together? He's actually not so much able to tell Alphonse is lying as his mind immediately rejects the very thought. He can't do anything else but deny.]

Brother showed up after Dante...well, I assume she used that seal on you. You're the one that told Brother how to seal and kill a homunculus, in the end.

[Al sighs then.] ...Scar made me into the Stone to save my life. My armor had been transmuted, and I was going to explode if he didn't do something. After that, Brother and I ran, and we saw Dad when we went to Risembul to hide. He went to confront Dante after that, though we didn't know where he'd gone at the time.

I was lured into a trap, and got captured. Brother, he came after me, Envy had taken me to the city under Central. And when he showed up, they fought, and--

[Al's voice catches, and tears prick at his eyes.] H-he died. I, there wasn't any other choice, I was the only one that could bring him back.

But even that's something to get used to, isn't it? [Al smiles wryly--he's one that would know, after all.] How different is it, other than the healing?

Believe what you want! It's not like you don't already live in a giant delusion anyway!

[Even just talking to Envy makes his stomach twist up painfully, and he glares daggers at the screen.] If you think someone deserves to die just because they were born, it's pretty fucking clear you don't work on any form of logic in the first place!

I have to remember to eat all the time. And sleep. And hygiene is different, I never had to worry about it before. I'm weaker and slower than I was, my reactions aren't as quick, I can't see in the dark anymore...

But I'm getting used to it. And I've had help adjusting.

I got drunk once.

Ah....

Yes, that was my plan. The only way for him to truly learn was for me to die.

[What a sad, sad fate they all had. He doesn't consider Envy nor Lust his enemies, not anymore. Not here.

Something flickers in his face at the comment about his armor being transmuted. Dammit, Kimbley, why...

Maybe he'll ask, if he shows up in November. When he shows up in November. But he probably won't.]

I had hoped you would be spared of further encounters with her when I left you and Martel in the woods.

[He breathes in at the last sentence.]

I was told long ago that human transmutation can only be successful with the Stone. But if you were the Stone, wouldn't that mean that....

You don't have any idea what you're talking about!

[And then he laughs, without any amusement to it. It's a cruel, bitter, angry noise.]

That's rich coming from you though, after what the two of you did to Sloth. But I forgot, we're not someones, we're just you alchemists' mistakes!

[Nevermind that that had been all Ed. Envy's far too angry to think straight.]

[Al bites his lip to hold back a small chuckle, not wanting to hurt Lust's feelings.] That's a lot more than I expected! I mean, some of it I could assume, but that's quite a difference. I guess I'm lucky that losing my memories at first made adjusting a moot point.

Wait, you got drunk? You didn't have too bad of a hangover, did you?

There are dozens and dozens of tiny differences I never thought about before.

Funny. I always expected once I became human, I'd remember it.

Oh, it was fine. I was well looked after and taken care of.

[What is it with teenage boys worrying about her?]

[Al can't help a flinch when Greed mentions Martel--god, please don't let him ask what happened to her. Al doesn't know if he could handle telling Greed of her fate.]

Unfortunately, she wasn't going to let us out of her grasp is she could help it. I think she was willing to do anything to keep us.

[Al's eyes squeeze shut, and he nods.] It was only because Brother's soul hadn't yet been absorbed back into the Gate that I was successful, even with the Stone. I even was able to give him his arm and leg back, Dante had torn them off of Wrath to keep him from using me to bring back Sloth...

[Yet another death on his head. It's a good thing Hell didn't exist, or Al would be certain to burn there.]

And then the dummy turned around and brought me back. He gave up his arm and leg again, and was trapped in that alternate world the same way Dad had been. When I came to down there Dante was gone, and I couldn't remember anything of the last five years. It was like I'd just woken up after we'd tried to bring Mom back.

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