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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[His eyes go wide for a moment before narrowing. Oh, he recognizes that name alright.] She's not here too, is she?

[He manages to hide his relief for the most part, only letting out a slight breath of air at that.]

No, she's not. Never has been, either.

Truthfully, kid, no one knows why they're here. I've been here for some time now, though not as long as some of the others I've met and none of them have any explanation either.

[Al lets out a small breath of relief as well.] Good. I don't want to have to try and find a way to kill her again.

That's not really comforting... Uh, no offense, but it's not only...er, dead people that are brought here, right? [LOOK THIS IS A LEGITIMATE CONCERN, OKAY?? It's not like his canon just happens to have a high bodycount or anything...plz don't be insulted, Greed, he is actually happy to see you!]

Edited 2014-08-18 23:22 (UTC)

[He laughs at that. It's a bitter, bitter sound.]

How blunt of you.

Time is one of those strange, shifting things. From your perspective I may be dead, but not from my own. So no, this isn't the afterlife. This isn't the Gate.

Speaking of, that's the method of traveling between worlds you mentioned, isn't it?

[Greed already knows the answer. But just in case.]

[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?

...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.

[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.]

[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.]

[......]

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.

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.

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....

[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.

[Oh, he doesn't want to know. He's not going to ask and he's going to be optimistic for once in his life because the alternative is much worse.]

Souls can choose to wait. I don't know how long it works, it might even be indefinitely. Where someone can be like a ghost, though I don't believe a person can interact with the world like that.

He may have been doing that. Waiting at the Gate.

[He mutters under his breath, cursing in a language Al probably won't recognize.]

But then how did you get your memories back?

I...I think he was. I saw him there, for a moment before I was absorbed with the Stone.

[Al chuckles weakly.] That's...a really long story, but I went through to that other world with him. He was being an idiot again, and I wasn't going to let him go running off without me after everything. Crossing through triggered it all, maybe because that part of the exchange was moot now. I don't really know.

[He runs his fingers through his hair, letting out an annoyed noise.

All of this is strange and ridiculous. Kimblee's right. There is something really screwed up about their version of Amestris.]

So before you came here, you both were stranded on the other side of the Gate.

That's...

[Terribly depressing.]

At least you're alive.

[Al eyes lower, and he nods.] ...yeah. I couldn't...I couldn't lose him again. As long as I'm with Brother, we can make a home anywhere.

I understand. The two of you are pretty damn close.

I don't know what that's like myself. Wish I did.

[Al laughs softly; that's the understatement of the century, Greed.] Really? I couldn't tell.

You can always find out. Family is more than just blood, and nothing is holding you back from just living here, right?

[That's what he's here for. Ridiculous understatement and speeches about all the material things he wants that may or may not be entirely bullshit.]

I have family here that isn't blood. But I'll never be able to understand a blood family. It's just not something that's possible.

Still, the two of you have each other.

[And he's certain that Ed will accept Al, even if they're from two different worlds. He certainly seemed to accept Greed of all people.]

...I suppose. I don't think it should make a difference if you're related or not, but I know it does to some people. And it does make for a different relationship in some ways.

...yeah. That's all we wanted, to just be able to live and have a normal life together.

He's here, you know. Edward.

But he's different from the one you know. It's hard to explain.

...different how? [Greed that is not reassuring right now]

He remembers a different set of events than us.

He doesn't... doesn't remember killing me. [It's said in a strained way. He thought he would be fine knowing what happened to him, he'd accepted his fate as someone who needed to die to teach Edward what to do, but...] For him, it was your country's leader who attacked my bar.

Edited (I'm awful at catching typos) 2014-08-24 22:49 (UTC)

Bradley? Why would he have... [For the Fuhrer to have gone after Greed personally, things must be very, very different over there.] How much does line up between our worlds, other than names?

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