armoredsoul | 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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[Al has been here a few times before, so Envy recognizes his face and definitely recognizes his voice. He doesn't think much about the Elrics anymore; they're never the ones from his world and he's got other things to focus on now. But...he doesn't look the same as he usually does.]

[And what he'd said...]

Method to move between worlds?

[Is this really the one from his own version of Amestris? His insides twist with an anger that he hasn't felt in a while. Just seeing Alphonse is enough to set it off, and while he keeps his voice mostly steady, that anger makes it tense too. He also doesn't know when Alphonse is even from, so he keeps it to voice. He might not even be recognized.]

[Al, on the other hand, doesn't have much control over the anger that rises up hearing Envy's voice. Even without his face Al would recognize that voice anywhere, the voice that had mocked his brother, belittled him, and then...]

[Al snarls, his grip on the Gear tightening and his teeth clenching in fury.] What the hell are you doing here, Envy? You're DEAD!

[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?

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!

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.]

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!

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.]

SHUT UP! We didn't want to kill Mom, but after what Dante did to her we didn't have a choice! Don't you dare try to speak for us!

[There wasn't a day that went by that Al wished they could have done something, anything to change the outcome of that horrible fight. Al knew Ed did too, even if he hadn't been able or willing to give voice to his feelings at the time.]

I don't need to speak for you when I can just repeat what I heard!

You wouldn't have tried, even if Dante hadn't found her! You might have made a show of it for a little while, but what if she'd turned out to not be your mother at all? If she was a different person altogether? You would have gotten rid of her then too!

[He's not talking about Sloth anymore, not really. But he thinks he is, thinks that all he's doing is trying to hurt Al for the not true not true information he'd been given.]

Brother wasn't thinking clearly, goddamnit!! Not that I expect you of all people to be able to understand that! We aren't like that disgusting woman, and we aren't like Dad! We wouldn't have driven her to fucking insanity!

[It's surprising that the Gear hasn't shattered at this point with how hard Al is gripping onto it--that Envy dared to think he and Edward would be anything like Dante,t hat they would ever have treated Trisha like that, let her become that twisted, sad creature...]

[Envy's shouting so loudly it could almost be called a roar.]

I don't see how you're any different from him!

[Envy wasn't thinking of Dante when he said that, before. He's very much in danger of just throwing his 'Gear against the wall and breaking it, but instead he's going to very angrily hang up. If only there was a receiver to slam it on.]

1st Transmutation | [video] Introductions

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