➤ 10th Transmutation

[unexculpable]

A. » Action 「1649 Albright Lane」

[Good morning, housemates! Sure hope you weren't in dire need of sleep because you'll all be getting a 6 AM wake up call in the form of a completely devastated, broken, piercing scream when Ed wakes up.

After the scream subsides there's a tense, stunned silence. It's heavy, almost palpable and all Ed can hear is the staggered sound of his own breathing. Slowly, he pulls his legs up to his chest, hugging his knees as his entire body starts to shake.]

A-Al... Alphons --

[The moment he tries to say his brother's name he feels his eyes start to sting. His throat seems to close on him and he squeezes his eyes shut. A painful sob rips at him and it doesn't look like the tears are going to stop anytime soon.

His brother. His little brother. He was... he was gone.]



B. » Action 「Around Town」

[He wasn't able to stay in the house for too long. Fresh air was something he desperately needed. Ed's not going anywhere in particular, he's just wandering. He's barely paying attention to where he's going and he really doesn't care where he ends up.

Those that know him will notice something is very wrong. It was the way he's walking, the way he's holding himself, the look in his eyes. The confidence he usually exuded is gone. The determination that always lingered behind his eyes has vanished. It's almost like he's not even the same person.

Approach?]

Comments

B

[redcinemareel]

[There is something off about the town this day. Grell notices people acting differently than usual, especially her usual customers.

As she walks down the sidewalk, she sees a very solemn looking boy walking towards her. That's unusual for this town. Most residents are either happy drones, or angry non-natives.]

Darling, your face is dragging.

[unexculpable]

[His shoulders hunch a little as he's addressed. Talking was not high on his list of things to do today. He turns, brow furrowed. He didn't really pay attention to what she said.]

... What?

action ♥ b

[priceofmagic]

[ You're not the only one acting a bit different today, Ed! Satou is walking around town with an almost dead look in her eyes. Her mother, the one person Satou would do anything to be praised by, has told Satou she's not human so many times that she believes it. And her little sister, who used to help her get through anything just by existing, is gone forever.

Making her more of an Angstou is the fact Satou remembers killing her friends recently. When she looks up to see Ed, all that registers are his golden eyes and hair. ]

... Sh, Shugo! [ Which is enough reason to come running after him. ] Shoes?!

[unexculpable]

[O-oh. Oh hi Satou. Ed isn't Shugo, sorry.

He turns to face her listlessly ]

Satou?

B

[theboywiththebook]

[Oh Hey Ed you wrecked Henry's fun today. He's also totally ignoring your obvious sadness and pain. So he's just going to run up to you and kick you hard in the shin. Hopefully you haven't regained your automail leg yet...]

[unexculpable]

[WHOOPS.

Should've kicked the right leg, Henry. This one's made of metal. My apologies to your toes.]

Hey! What the hell?!

action ◈

[handsforhealing]

[ Heya, Ed!

So, Winry woke up in Crazyfield this morning. She is one of those normal people in a melting pot of insanity. Once she determined that some people were behaving in a loopy fashion, Winry immediately began looking for Ed. She's relieved to spot him and almost runs after him. ]

Edward! Hey, ED! [ Gonna grab your arm and turn you around. ] Quick! Are you insane?

[unexculpable]

[Insane? No. No he's not insane. He just looks like he's about to fall to pieces, that's all.

He has no choice but to face her. That was one hell of a forceful yank, Winry, but what she sees is probably not what she's expecting.

His eyes were practically lifeless. He looked tired and worn, hollow and brittle -- like he might just shatter if she touched him again. He can't say anything, his voice is gone -- stuck in the back of his throat.

Of all the people he was hoping to avoid for the time being, Winry was right up there with Al.]

[sinistraljoker]

[Oh hey Ed. There's a very differently-dressed Shoutaro exploring the town, dressed in a hastily put together hoodie made of a blanket, and is headed your way. He's seen that look many times before, so he's going to investigate.]

What seems to be the trouble?

[unexculpable]

Hm? Oh, it's... it's nothing. Just been a rough day, that's all.

B

[technologic]

[And here's another person who is different today. Instead of the usually cheeriness and energy she tended to show, April now seems... cold and almost lifeless.

But when she spots Ed, she frowns faintly, though it's uncertain if it's out of concern or not.] ... Ed?

[unexculpable]

[He looks up quietly and when he spots April his eyes widen a bit. Something was definitely not right.]

Hey. Is everything... are you alright?

Action ☆

[badend_replay]

Edward?

[ Walking up behind him is Rika. She was going to just tail him all day, but couldn't bear to go unannounced when he was looking so... sad. She's seen Ed sad before. She's seen Ed beaten down by Mayfield and never wants for that to happen again.

Worried that might be on the verge of happening, she trots up next to him and takes his hand. ]

Where are we going?

[unexculpable]

[His eyes soften considerably. Rika... Rika you are the best little sister.]

Dunno. Anywhere. Somewhere that isn't my house.

A. » Action 「1649 Albright Lane」

[shadowflashkick]

-Sleep? At 6 am? Nonsense! There was no need for that. The not!dad of the household has been up for a while now and has been standing in the kitchen. He doesn't seem to react to the scream, nor does he seem to react upon any of the housemates.

Well then...-

B

[canhasfuhrer]

[Well look there, it's Edward! How convenient - he was looking for the famous teen. But something looks off, so there's a look of concern on Mustang's face as he approaches the blond, the basket on his arm suddenly taking secondary importance]

Edward? Is everything alright?

[unexculpable]

[His face falls a little when he hears Mustangs's voice. Did not want to deal with this right now.

His voice is quiet, distant.]

Hey, colonel. I... yeah, I'm fine. Just been a long day.

[Lying through his teeth? You bet he is!]

B

[hintcoinplz]

[After a long day of making a memorial to his dead parents, Luke's in a pretty sour mood. He's dealing with this in the best possible way - sitting on a street corner and glaring at anyone who passes by, occasionally muttering to himself.]

Bunch of prats.

[And then he spots Edward. His voice is vaguely annoyed.]

Oi, careful where you're walking. Unless you like walking into stop signs.

[unexculpable]

[Good timing. He was just about to run into that sign, too. He stops short, skidding back a few steps.]

Sorry about that. Thanks for the heads up.

B - Incoming Greed thinking Ed is a girl!

[all_ofthethings]

[Greed is strolling around town when he sees Ed from behind. He sneaks up on the alchemist and pulls on Ed's braid.]

I thought you liked wearing your hair down, Edna.

oh gosh XD

[unexculpable]

[Ed stumbles backwards, head tilting back when his braid is yanked. He turns around, glaring something furious at Greed.]

That's not funny, damn it! The hell did you do that for?

A - OH MAN my heart is breaking ;_;

[nyanpire]

[The screaming woke Nyanpire right up. And it woke him up with such suddenness that his thoughts hadn't really had a chance to completely congeal. Operating on some sort of instinct, he bolted from his kitty bed and up the stairs and into Ed's room, where he bounded onto the foot of his bed...

And then with a shake of his head, everything settled. It was the dumb boy that lived in his house. And he was being even dumber.]

Fffft. Stop being noisy!

[What? Tears? Nyanpire cares not for your feelings.]

N-Nyanpire

[unexculpable]

[Ed slowly lifts his head, swallowing hard. His face is stained with tears, his eyes bloodshot. Under normal circumstances Ed would've snapped right back at Nyanpire, or at the very least told him to shut up and get out, but this wasn't normal circumstances. Not at all.]

S-sorry. Didn't mean to wake you up or anything...

B

[snacklist]

[Al isn't even aware that Mayfield is behaving oddly again yet, blissfully ignorant of the bombshell that's about to be dropped on him.

Seeing Ed from a distance, he raises a hand and waves much as he used to when he was young, smile on his face.]

Brother! Hey, Brother!

AL I'M SO SORRY BB

[unexculpable]

[The moment Ed heard Al's voice he froze. His heart skipped a few beats, his breathing stopped and his eyes widened as every muscle in his body tensed.

He knew Al was still here in Mayfield, but he wasn't ready to see him just yet. Not after... not after what happened back home. Not so soon after failing him completely. There was no way for him to get him back from the other side of the Gate. Not anymore. How could he possibly face him knowing what he did now?

He doesn't move. Doesn't so much as turn his head. He barely breathes.]

Hey, Al.