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[xerxesalchemist]

[Action for housemate] [Trisha, there's someone next to you. He's fast asleep, kind of sprawling everywhere in the bed, all bony knees and elbows, golden hair loose and fanned across the pillows.]

[Action for anyone]

[Van's gotten the basic rundown, even had the entire problem of timelines explained. Now, he's just exploring. He could probably be mistaken for Edward Elric at first glance, the same golden eyes and long gold-blond hair, but his build is different (thinner, for one thing), and he's kind of lost-looking (but not frantic, not obviously looking for anyone), and he's wearing basic Mayfield clothes but no shoes.

Maybe Ed and Al had a brother they never mentioned before.]

Comments

action ❥ around town

[handsforhealing]

[ There was a Winry, going to buy ingredients to make Ed an apple pie, when suddenly a strange man crossed her path. Well, more like she passed him on the street. She knows it's rude, but she can't help but just stop and stare as he walks by.
It's Den, who's by her side, that recognizes him first. Curious as to why this guy (who he always used to hate) isn't giving off creepy vibes anymore, Den leaves Winry and starts following Van. ]

Ah-- D-DEN! Hey, no, that's rude! [ Like how her staring was rude. ]

[xerxesalchemist]

[Van doesn't actually turn around until Den nudges him in the back of the leg, then he glances from the dog to Winry.]

This yours?

[handsforhealing]

Y-yeah, sorry, he's a bit...

[ Her voice trails off as she stares at his face. He seems... familiar. But how? Surely she'd remember the name of someone who looks so much like Ed and Al, if only to tell them about their lost long twin brother later. ]

... Have we met?

action for house;

[nurture]

[Trisha is usually up early, earlier than the drones -- so it isn't surprising to wake up beside someone still in the bed. she usually didn't have the heart to break her drone husband's heart, even if many residents would say they didn't have one, by asking him to sleep elsewhere. he was convinced she was his wife and someone he loved, even if there was nothing personal about their relationship at all.

but this morning, there's something... different, isn't there?

she's tilting her head as she sits up, something of a confused look on her face... before it's turning into one of outright shock. her knee-jerk reaction has Ed's name on her tongue -- but she knows this isn't Edward in the next heartbeat.

...welp

maybe the sound of her gasp has him waking up? or the shift of the mattress where she gave a start? or maybe her lazeabout loser husband just. doesn't wake up at all through any of this... either way, his wife is staring at him with a hand to her mouth.]

[xerxesalchemist]

[He wakes up, slowly at first, and then jolts fully awake. In a show of absolute agility and grace, he fumbles backwards away from Trisha, and winds up falling entirely off the bed.

He doesn't know what's going on. But he can't ask.]

[nurture]

[...it's a little strange, isn't it?

that this is all it takes to secure her suspicions. that familiar clumsiness -- the deer in headlights look in his eyes. it's endearing, actually, and she's missed it.

even if he's not quite the man she associates with this, just yet.

Trisha is stunned for a moment more before she's leaning over the side of the bed to look down at him, surprise and softer concern in her eyes. she opens her mouth, but... shuts it again soon after, realizing she has absolutely no idea what to say to him at all.]

[unexculpable]

[His mom was back, Diana was back, he'd managed to patch things up with Al and Winry and all things considered, Ed was having a pretty good day.

Was being the keyword there.

Because the face of the man walking towards him made his stomach flip. That wasn't...? It couldn't be him, right...? But the resemblance was too close -- golden hair and eyes -- traits belonging to the people of Xerxes.]

What the hell...? Hohenheim?

[xerxesalchemist]

... Yeah. [Van has no idea how this kid knows his name, and he doesn't exactly sound friendly.]

Who're you?

1/?? ... We both knew this was coming.

[unexculpable]

[Hohenheim. This was... this was his father. He couldn't have been too much older than Ed was right now. Maybe 19 or 20. He was so... so young. Literally hundreds of years younger than he should be.

He would have no idea who Ed was. Who Al was.

He wouldn't know his own wife.]

[unexculpable]

You...

[unexculpable]

... You god damn --

done!

[unexculpable]

I'm your son, you bastard!

[Yeah. He's... he's totally punching you in the face now. Guess who inherited your temper, Hoho?]

Action ☆ Around Town

[badend_replay]

[ Rika has gotten a bit withdrawn lately. Losing her interest in her friends, too nervous to socialize... Any other familiar faces she might have written off, but the chance of seeing this man again was just so low on her list of expectations that she has to do a double take. She used to make this man breakfast and try to look after him.

It's nostalgic to see him once again. Even if he won't remember her, Rika decides to trail after him. ]

Van Hohenheim?

[xerxesalchemist]

[Someone else who knows him.

He... might be slightly bruised in the face thanks to his dear son Edward.]

Yeah. Who're you?

[If you punch him, he will not be happy.]

[badend_replay]

Furude Rika! [ She replies cheerfully. Her icons betraying the fact she's aged to fifteen, which she knows if older than when he last saw her anyway. For a moment, she hopes that's the only reason he doesn't recognize her. That his memories will come back in a flash and she'll go make him a warm meal again...

Like that'd happen. ]

Nice to meet you, sir!

Action anyone

[theboywiththebook]

[Henry had been biking around today. He was going to the comic book shop when, as he biked he caught sight of Edward, or at least, someone who looked like Ed. Biking towards him, he slowly began coming to a stop when he realized that this young man was not the friend he knew. Just someone who looked a lot like him. So as he comes to a complete stop in front of Van, the young boy tilts his head curiously. There's only really one explanation for it.]

Are you new here?

[xerxesalchemist]

[A nod.]

Yeah.

[theboywiththebook]

[Another head tilt. So he's new...and looks like Ed. Climbing off his bike he walks closer to get a better look at the boy.]

Are you Ed and Al's brother or cousin or something?

[renewals]

[ By the time that Diana was around Mayfield and checking to see if anything changed, she ran into Van and blinked in confusion.

Ed didn't say he had a third brother since all she knew was about Alphonse and that was it.

Welp, time to go investigate. ]

Er, pardon me, but are you related to the Elrics in any way, sir?

[xerxesalchemist]

[By this time, Van's been yelled at, punched, talked to, and thoroughly confused. This morning, he hadn't known he was related to any Elrics, but by now, he's never going to forget it.


Huh. "Sir". He could get used to that.]

Yeah, I am.

[snacklist]

[Because just what he needs is a suit of armour walking down the street, right? It's sure to put him at ease!

Al is minding his own business, heading to visit his mother, when he sees--]

Broth--

[No, that's not Ed. He's too thin and...]

Dad?

[xerxesalchemist]

[Luckily (or not) for Alphonse, Van's already had a run in with Ed.

So he knows about Al's 'armor wearing hobby'.

Still, Al, you're kind of huge.]

You're Alphonse?

[snacklist]

[He wasn't expecting to be recognised, so that gives him pause. Does being a living philosopher's stone allow you to see the future?!]

R--Right! Um... you know who I am?

Action | This time I'll get it right cause lol I can see better now XD Also WELCOME!

[equinamity]

[Walking around town, Riza caught a glimpse of familiar yellow hair and golden eyes, and the drone-looking clothing. She first suspected that Edward might have been droned, and approached to confirm this suspicion.]

Oh, good afternoon--

[Wait just a moment. He looks very much like Edward, but he is not Edward. He is also clearly not droned. And clearly lost looking.]

I am sure you have heard this countless times today, but you look very familiar..

Did you just arrive in Mayfield?

shhhhhh it's fine! also hi!

[xerxesalchemist]

[A nod. He's used to it. Also he got punched in the face and is sporting a nice sized bruise on one of his cheekbones. Thank you dearest son.]

This morning.