mayfield_rpg | ➤ 10th Transmutation

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➤ 10th Transmutation

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?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ 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?

[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.]

[ Almost immediately, Winry's grip on his arm loosens. Her own expression shrinks and her heart sinks with worry. Ed is never like this. No matter how sad he is, it never shows. He's always trying to hide it from her. For it to show like this... ]

Edward... [ Her hand gently slides down his arm to take his hand and give it a worried squeeze. Worried he might break, but ready to pick up every last piece if it comes to that. Her voice is a great deal softer now, especially in comparison to her earlier outburst ] Edward, what's wrong?

[Ed hated knowing that he made her worry. It was part of the reason why he refused to let his feelings show. If she knew how afraid he was, how sad and exhausted he felt, how hopeless things seemed to be at times... it would just make her upset. He didn't want to be the cause of her tears. He didn't want to make her worry.

But he can't hide this from her. This wasn't just fear. Wasn't some dangerous situation he didn't want her to know about. Al was gone. The only family he had left. His little brother was gone and he took a piece of Ed's soul, a piece of his heart, with him.]

Winry, I...

[His voice cracks and he ducks his head down, unable to look her in the eyes right now.]

I went back home for a little bit...

[ Winry isn't the type of girl who thinks hearts can break, but this moment might have just proven her wrong. She had already figured out that Ed was from further in time than her and she's been worrying about his future since they were separated. His tone and his current state combined with his trip back home...

... She'd be lying to deny that her chest isn't tight with fear.

Even so, Winry releases his hand so she can give him a quick hug. Wanting to remind him that no matter what he saw, at least in this Mayfield-isc moment she's there for him and isn't going to let him fall apart. ]

Let's go inside, okay? You should sit down...

[He nods slowly.]

Y-yeah. That's probably a good idea.

[ Her house is close enough, so she takes Ed there. Walking with his hand in hers, and not about to let go. Even if he tries to get away from her.

Rather than risk meeting drones in the living room, she takes Ed to her room and offers for him to sit on the bed. ]

O-okay... just take your time, okay? Can I get you anything...?

[His hand is wrapped loosely around hers, but he doesn't try to get away.

He sits down on the bed and shakes his head.]

No, that's ok. Thanks though.

[For a few minutes he's completely silent. He doesn't move a muscle, barely even blinks, it almost looks like he isn't even breathing. When he finally finds his voice it's hesitant and strained with a hint of fear under it all.]

Are you sure you want to know?

[ Winry freezes in place, watching him nervously. Her thoughts are completely wrapped up in how much he's scaring her right now, which makes her feel awful. He puts up an act because he knows she'll get worked up, so she's trying not to let her building stress show.

She's being Ed while he gets to be Winry. ]

... Mm. I... No matter what it is. You don't have to go through it alone, Ed.

[You don't have to go through it alone, Ed

Alone. He was alone now, wasn't he? Al was gone and Hohenheim had left and he was alone again.

Something in him breaks. The sliver of whatever was holding him together crumbles and everything seems to fall apart. The tears are quiet at first, with his head ducked down it'd be hard to tell that he was crying at all.]

Al. He... he didn't...

[His voice wavers and cracks and he doubles over, holding himself tight like that would be enough to keep his body from shaking. Ed looks like he's trying to sink into himself, trying to disappear, almost seems smaller. So small and so incredibly vulnerable.

It's something Winry has seen once before. Going through his automail surgery -- delirious from pain, his heart aching from what he'd done, so guilty and terrified that Al hated him for putting him in that suit of armor. His face twisted in the kind of pain that goes far beyond physical hurt. It was the kind of pain that ripped at your soul.]

He's... he's gone, Winry. He's gone, damn it, and it's my fault. I didn't keep my promise. I couldn't get him back and he's gone.

... Gone?

[ Everything is happening so quickly and her mind can't keep up. She hears what he's saying and understands the words, but what do they mean? Gone... couldn't keep the promise... Ed's a mess and she can't figure out what she should focus on.

It takes her a good half minute to sit on the bed and wrap her arms tight around Ed. Motivated by the emotions in her gut that are whirling too quickly for her to comprehend. ]

E-ed... [ She chokes on what she realizes are sobs. The words sunk into her heart faster than her head, and she's already starting to cry. Her hug now involves trying to hide her expression from him. ] Wh, what are you saying? He's not... we've got to calm down, we need to get him b-back! What happened? I'll go look..!

You can't. There's nothing you can do! Nothing... nothing I can do.

[Ed practically falls into the hug. He can't bring himself to reciprocate, not yet. It's hard to move. Hard to breathe. Hard to think.]

Al's still in Mayfield, but... back home I...

[He chokes back a painful sob, his voice cracking and shaking as he speaks.]

I couldn't get him back from the other side of the Gate. I gave alchemy up in exchange, but it... it wasn't enough. I promised him, Winry. I promised you and Granny and teacher... I told everyone. I said I was going to get Al his body back. I promised. I promised and Al believed in me. He was counting on me.

A-all I did... all I could do... i-it wasn't enough. I told him I'd come back for him. I can't... I can't do alchemy anymore I can't even try to bring him back again.

[ She can't be hearing this. This can't be happening. It's got to be a joke. All of those years filled with waiting and hope are crashing down at once.

Winry holds him more firmly, making up for his lack of a hug by doubling her own efforts. ]

Ssh... s-ssh, okay? It... It's not over yet. It's not hopeless yet, okay? [ She rubs his back, but she knows he won't calm down. He shouldn't, if what he's saying is true. ] Ed... That can't be true, okay? Please.

[You've got that right. He's not calming down at all. In fact he's just getting himself more worked up than he already was. It isn't long before he's gasping for breath between heart wrenching sobs.]

Wh-why the hell would I lie about something like this?! He's gone, Winry! Al's gone and there is nothing we can do. Nothing.

Sh-shut up! [ You doesn't mean that cruelly. But she doesn't know what to do. Alphonse being gone is the worst thing that could happen. She's angry about it, but there's no one to be angry at. She's depressed, but she can't cry on Ed when he's like this.

She pulls his closer, to muffle his crying against her and keep him from moving. ] I know. I know you wouldn't lie, it's just... Ed... Ed, I'm sorry. [ It's all she can think to say. ]

[he wraps his arms around her, burying his head on her shoulder and clinging to her desperately.]

I tried, I swear I did everything I could. I'm sorry. This is all my fault. It's my fault. I'm sorry, Winry. I'm s-so sorry.

It's not your fault. It's not your fault, Edward.

[ If it was possible for her hold to get any tighter than it just did. ]

I know you did. And I know Al knows that too, Ed...

It is. I was the one who suggested the transmutation in the first place. Not Al, me. I was the one who stuck his soul in that suit of armor. I was the one who was so damn sure that I could get our bodies back.

It's my fault. I was just arrogant. Still thought I could play God and get away with it. If it wasn't for me...

If it wasn't for me Al would still be here.

Edward, Al never blamed you for any of that. He's never lied to you about that. Al's never resented you for what happened and it's never been all your fault.

And Al... Al wouldn't have made all of those wonderful friends if you didn't help him, Ed. [ Talking about Al like he's gone... because he is gone... Winry is feeling sick, but forces herself to continue. ] H-he... he got to grow up. And be happy. And see great things, all because of you.

[The sobs have subsided for the time being, but the tears certainly haven't. His voice sounds so small, even to his own ears. He sounds... broken.]

Al usually decks me if I say shit like this. He gets so angry... he'd tell me that too, that he was grateful. That I... that I saved him.

But I just... I don't feel like I did. I... I might as well have condemned him.

[ Winry gives her head a very slight shake. ]

That's not it. You did save him. And Al saved you too. Th-this isn't how it should have ended up, but... but Al would be so upset. He'd be unhappy to be... seeing you like this would make him so upset.

That seems like the only thing I've ever been good at.

Don't you dare say that!

[ Geez, Winry. Don't yell... ]

You know that's not true! You know he wouldn't want you saying that!

[He grimaces, shoulders sagging.]

I...

I'm sorry.

[ She seems to shrink when she realizes she went and yelled at him. ]

No, I... Me too.

➤ 10th Transmutation

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