#arc: amestris no more
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alchemic-elric · 10 months ago
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⋆。˚☽˚。⋆ God damn he hates this fuckin' place. He's been walking for what feels like ages and he doesn't have a goddamn clue where he is. This whole fuckin' place can go to fuckin' hell for all he cares. Nothing makes sense here and it's a still all just endless stretches of fuckin' DIRT. Worst of all of it, he doesn't have a fuckin' clue where Alphonse is because the dumb bastard manages to get his ass separated from him.
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Now they are both aimlessly wandering this hell hole and neither one knows where the other is. A loud groan leaves him as the blond reaches both hands up to tug at his hair while the groan drags out in frustration. This was fuckin' stupid.
He just wanted to go home or to see a familiar fuckin' face. He just wanted to find his damn brother and he swears to high hell if he ever gets stuck in a place like this ever again so fuckin' HELP HIM -
This was like Liore all over again!!
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"ALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!"
All he can hear is his own voice echoing out and then back to him. A lotta fuckin' good that did. Who knows where that fuckin' tin can was? Nothing makes sense in this damn place. He is tired. He is hungry and he wants to fucking sleep. He's been out in this fuckin' heat longer than he cares to remember and he hasn't seen hide or hair of anyone he could talk to for who knows how long?!
This was bullshit.
Where is his goddamn brother? He's been here so long he's lost track of the time. He swears if he ever makes it home he won't call the Colonel a jackass for a whole week when they're at work. A whole week he promises.
Just send a face he knows. Anyone. Anyone would do. He's so sick of being out here alone.
Alphonse has to be around here somewhere. He couldn't have fallen that far could he?
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angcrmanagcmcnt · 11 months ago
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@shiroi---kumo asked: Spotify wrapped 64
Wrapped. | Accepting! | No. 64: Misguided Ghosts.
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" We all learn to make mistakes—and run from them... "
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kuroki---kaze · 10 months ago
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( @frequencypawn )
Grey eyes usually filled with light and warmth focus coldly on the targets downrange. Well-trained hands hold a rifle steady, honed in without the scope in use.
It's been too long since he's practiced without it. He can't let himself get too unseasoned, hence the use of iron sights.
They're harder to use accurately at a distance like this. The scope lays off on its own next to his bag on the table behind him, mostly abandoned just like his prior occupation.
Still, Wonderland is not without its dangers. He's not naïve enough to assume that the Comodeen is invincible regardless of how well-built or well-hidden the compound is.
If the time comes, blowdarts aren't going to be saving them like a firearm will. If the time comes, Kain will defend this place with ferocity only Miles has seen a glimpse of.
The once-soldier takes in a controlled breath, moves his index finger to the trigger, exhales, and fires.
Off the bullet goes. The butt of the rifle presses into his shoulder in a way he can't say he misses feeling often.
His hand moves back to the bolt to ready another shot.
Inhale. Trigger. Exhale. Fire. Eject. Ready. Repeat ad nauseam.
It's as easy to him as blinking is, even as much as he hates for that to be true. And while he's certainly no Hawkeye, examining each target once he's fired off all his rounds shows that he's still a deadly threat and a force not to be reckoned with.
Every shot was at least center mass, if not a bullseye outright. He's almost glad that Pilvi isn't in this part of the compound to see him. This isn't the name he's made for himself here.
This isn't who he wants to be, but he knows he cannot let himself be rendered defenseless, either.
As he turns to retrieve his handgun for the second phase of his target practice, he's faced with a looming presence that he somehow missed entering.
"... Hi, Black Wind," he greets. "When'd you get here?"
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⋆୨����୧⋆ This is not a display he was expecting from the Amestrian. This one seemed to spend more time injured than anything else. From the moment White Cloud brought him back and beyond, he's been... injured; and if he wasn't - he was practically glued to the Cloud's side.
This man is the reason that White Cloud has been so distracted. He's seen the way jade eyes look at him. He knows what's going on in that head of his. He can see how high the Cloud has ascended without ever so much as leaving the ground. He knows what's happening.
He won't say he cares for it but at the same time it's not his business to care.
Still trained eyes watch as each shot is fired and it's an entire ocean to take up where their final location strikes. At the very least he can say the Amestrian has good aim. At the very least he can say if push comes to shove the Amestrian can defend himself. He does not want to see what happens to his counterpart when this man dies.
Or goes home for that matter.
If he ever goes home.
The ever optimistic look that exists in White Cloud's eyes when he explains to these people that he can find the Pillar that connects to their world so he can send them home - it's as painful to watch as it is deceitful because they both know he's promising the impossible.
They both know that he's been lying to these people the entire time out of some twisted form of care because he knows full well that the Cloud is too damn scared to just tell them the truth.
Which one of them is the wicked one now?
There was mercy and there foolishness what the Cloud was doing was foolishness. What the Cloud was doing was cruel. He couldn't promise these people the impossible just to try to spare them from the pain of the inevitable. The same as this man. He too would feel the pain of the end of his world, just as they all would.
And if White Cloud ever did find the Pillar that connects their Amestris to Wonderland then he would see to it that ever last one of them were returned to their homes himself, if only to make his Other's mind a bit more clear. His head was... filled with frivolities as of late.
There were already enough problems with the other Mistericans, but he couldn't do anything about that and if he dared he's sure that the Lamb would become a Lion at a moment's notice.
So he stands, silently as he watches the Amestrian unload the clip in his weapon as if he's done this thousand times and it's enough to know that the unassuming man before him has seen battle, war at that. It's at least a small comfort. It's a small comfort that should the worse happen, then maybe he would be a hinderance on the battlefield.
That's the last thing they need. Even if he doesn't want any of these people near Chaos in the first place - if only to avoid - a repeat of last time.
The man turns, finally noticing him and he is greeted in a casual sort of way that brings his lips to drag down into a deep frown. He wants to know when he got here which means he had been so absorbed in his task that he hadn't noticed the Windarian's entry. Foolish. That's dangerous to not be completely aware of one's surroundings at all times when handling a firearm.
He has more important questions for this one than the state of his ability to access a battlefield. Blue eyes focus in on grey coldly as his voice leaves him in a deep rumble.
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"....tell me something. Is he in your eyes?"
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shiroi---kumo · 2 years ago
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( @justaradioguy has a request) ->
It's nighttime again, and much like other nights he's spent here, he is wide awake.
He is creeping through the halls of the Comodeen, searching for Kumo - his room is around here somewhere, he's pretty sure. Chicken leads the way, showing him exactly where he needs to go to find the Misterican. Has the bird wandered over here before?
Kain knocks lightly on the door, determined to tell Kumo something almost unusually significant. He's made up his mind.
"Hi," he greets, leaning on his cane more once the door swings open. "I... I hope I'm not bothering you since it's kinda late, but I wanted to wait until you weren't busy to ask if maybe you'd call me Kain from now on? It's my first name, and... I dunno. I like it, I guess. You don't have to, though."
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It's late and for the first time in a while, he's managed to crawl back into the depths of the Comodeen to the room that is allotted just for him. Miss Lyssa isn't here despite her being the only one of present company that he's told where it was. It wasn't like the members of the Comodeen who live here didn't know which room was his though. Someone could have easily directed his present company.
And the look on his face when the door slid open and there stood Herra Fuery with Chicken in tow. It's late and the Misterican had currently lost himself within the space of the new book that he'd been gifted form Miss Lisa for his birthday. He can only assume those beloved twins of his hand let it slip to her. He's curled up under a pile of blankets that have been collected over time with the image of a rainbow of tones peeking out from under the all, resting just over his chest.
"Hi." The Amestrian greets and he's only met with raised brows and the swordsman scooting himself over to make room should the other wish to use it, and then there is a request. A change - a change of address. He wishes for him to address him by his first name instead of the formality of his last.
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"Herra Fu - no no you're not bothering me. Please come in." He sounds stopping himself short, as he lays his hand flat palm to his mattress and pats down against it as if to offer a seat. "Are you having trouble sleeping again? My door is always open to you."
Jade eyes drop to the floor, to the small orb of black feathers and he smiles. "You too, Little One. Did you bring him to me because he was upset? Kiitos ystäväni."
Slowly do slender hands work to slip a blue and white bookmark into the tome within them. The cover falls closed and it's moved to rest on his lap. They're surrounded. Unburnt candles and books in multiple different languages. There is a long plush that resembles a dragon laying along the side of bed that is shoved against the wall. The Maken is leaned up against the wall by the head of his bed and there is a circular rug in the center of the floor made of differing shades of blue.
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"I will call you whatever you desire me to, Kain. It is your name. You get to decide how you are addressed. Come set with me... and our Little Friend too of course. Please come have a set and tell me what's on your mind.... because your name wasn't the only thing bothering you, was it? You have my ear, what's on your mind?"
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shiroi---kumo · 2 years ago
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⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ "Herra Breda." He sounds in a casual tone, no form of malice to be found. "You don't need to stand in the hall. You can come in. I'd like to explain this to both of you so I don't need to repeat myself if you would be so kind."
His ears are too sharp to have missed the sound of the other's movement and since he is explaining the Maken and all that has happened he really would much prefer to not have to explain the quirks of this world twice.
So he waits until the man appears again before he starts speaking. He understands that Herra Breda only has Herra Fuery's best interest in mind but he just thinks the fiery man could find a better way to go about it.
"Lovely." He starts with a pause as he lets his hands fold over the sword that rests upon his lap and a jaded colored gaze scrolls the room from one set of dark eyes to the next.
"Now then, to explain to you both where you are."
There is an emphasis on the word as he pauses again shifting his gaze between them just to make sure they're both engaged.
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"You are currently in a building known as The Comodeen. This is a resistance group that helps to maintain order in this world. This world is a place known as Wonderland and it currently has no ruler. As Herra Breda already heard before on his trek through the villages here, it was once ruled by a man known as Earl Tyrant or simply The Earl but he has since died a year ago leaving Wonderland rulerless.
There are still remnants of his followers however, we refer to as the Gaudium Faction, and currently they are clashing with the Comodeen. If you ever run into a Gaudium supporter, I ask that you attempt to speak with them as little as possible as they tend be quite fanatical and potentially dangerous. The people who supported The Earl were dangerous folk. So I only ask you try to avoid engaging these people wherever possible."
There is a pause and a smile. A sigh for a moment as he gaze shifts to make sure both of them are following. This is a lot of information and he has already had this conversation with Miss Riza and Eversti more than once so he knows how difficult it was for them to take it all in and he doesn't want to bog down Herra Breda or Herra Fuery when he explains it all to them.
"Now Wonderland is a special sort of place that is made of what once was. I'm sure Herra Breda already experienced this and I know Herra Fuery had quite the run in with a Bandersnatch enough to know that there are beings here that are nothing like what you know on your Earth. Myself included.
Humans are not the dominant species here and there are many that carry a strong distaste for them or anyone who looks like them. This goes for beings like myself and my counterpart, Black Wind. While we both may appear human-esque in nature, neither of us are, so I ask that you please do your best to remember this. Black Wind's appearance is far more deceptive than my own however, I promise you, that man is full blooded Windarian and far from human."
He's shifting for the a moment to glance between them both before he gives them a smile with upturned brows.
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"I just want you both aware of the circumstances. Wonderland can be a beautiful place but it can also be quite cruel as I'm sure you both have learned over these past weeks. It would be in your best interest to exercise caution if you should decide to venture out again. Just know that the Comodeen will always have a place for you, though I do not run it myself nor am I a member of it's group. If you'd like to speak who's in charge you'll need to speak to a man named Knave. I can introduce you, if you'd like."
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Your senses are quite sharp.
In a less-serious situation, he would have laughed and explained his eyesight definitely is far from "sharp", but the laughter does not come. Instead, he has to listen to the end.
Lady Tiamat - his goddess, she exists in that blade. And somehow, she had not... hurt him, really. It had only been a light jolt, not unlike a minor shock he'd receive during his normal work.
If that isn't enough information, it turns out his new friend - Kumo, now, to him - is immortal so long as his blade remains unharmed and near his side.
What about the chip in the gem, then? Is it some weird aesthetic choice?
He doesn't feel up to asking right now. Instead, he only pulls Chicken into his arms to pet him and offer Kumo a small nod.
"You can trust me, yes. I'll make sure the Maken gets back to you, I promise," he replies. He'll endure the zapping if he needs to - he does not want Kumo to die again.
Again. Mustang killed him.
On accident.
"And- uh. You don't need to worry about me and the Colonel. He... I know it had to have been an accident. So- if you were worried about me getting mad or anything, I'm not."
Not about that, anyway. He has plenty of other reasons.
"He usually tries to use fire as a diversion, not an offense. Something had to have gone really wrong. I'm not mad at him over it, so there won't be a fight or anything. Thanks for... being honest. And sticking up for me. But Breda means well, he's just... kinda rough sometimes."
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The lieutenant leans against the doorframe when he comes back, catching only the very last handful of sentences. Something about the Colonel, from the sound of it, and he finds himself agreeing with whatever assessment Fuery's making.
Roy isn't usually cruel with his flames. He has Hawkeye to actually take out most threats.
And at least this cloud guy seems to have Fuery's best interest in mind. At least Breda can agree with him on that front.
He moves from the doorway to just outside the room again. No point in interrupting.
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alchemic-elric · 7 months ago
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@lilhub asked:
💭 + Hey Edward. Whaddaya think of Cloud Puff?(for Wonderland Ed) Also. How did you even end up here?
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"Sugar Cube? I dun't know what ta think'a'im yet. 'e's fuckin' weird though. I mean I dinn't know Fuery was in'ta guys... 'er aliens but sure I guess. Whatev'r makes'im happy. I ain't really got much'ta say 'bout the guy when some shit went down n' 'e told us ta run.... then the next thing I know Fuery was callin' the shots n' 'e was draggin' 'e behind'im. Then we met a couple'a tall fuckers n' I still don't know what ta think'a them either.
N' this place? Wonderland? Is that what we're callin' it now? Well it's just as fucked up as it is in that book so I guess it makes fuckin' sense that way. I don't 'member how I fuckin' got 'ere though. Al n' I were downtown n' then some fuckin' where along the way I blacked the fuck out n' woke up in this hellhole. Sure like ta know what the fuck is goin' on though. That'd be fuckin' great... n' where my goddamn brother is. Not knowin' where Al is, is really startin' ta piss m' off fer sure. That answer yer question?"
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angcrmanagcmcnt · 11 months ago
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@kuroki--kaze asked: 🎁 -> 72
Wrapped. | Accepting! | No. 72: It Should've Been Me.
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" Please, don't think less of me—I'm but a lonely soul, you see.... "
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shiroi---kumo · 2 years ago
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Royal Knights of His Majesty || Accepting
Send    ‘ you’ll have to get through me first… ‘    for my muse’s reaction to yours stepping in and defending them from someone they’re scared of
@flameleads is growling:
"You’ll have to get through me first." [ because Roy said so ]
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There had been a small bit of a squabble when the Amestrian Colonel came to learn what he had been doing all this time. It wasn't that the Misterican had been keeping the nature of his activities from the man out of ill will but more because he did not want to cause the man anymore turmoil that he had already been feeling and he also did not want to bring anyone else with him because of his airborne nature.
It was just simpler to search from the skies when he did not have to worry about what was happening on the ground, at the same time. Black Wind would have been the only suitable searching companion, but this wasn't adding to their on going search for Chaos so - so that wouldn't have been a productive conversation either. 
So now he finds himself walking through the first town they've seen for at least a day. Cid had been gracious enough to give him more time on that blasted timer since this time he was out with company but there had been a long talk between the Misterican and the Mechanic about staying aware of his surroundings, keeping his head down, if he feels unsafe for any reason they are to return immediately without hesitation. 
There had been a groan and a sigh from the prince in question to ultimately he had agreed to the commands. Eversti was adverse to flight, so that meant they were stuck on foot with only the supplies the swordsman's travel bag could carry. He didn't know how long they would be out this time but he can't imagine that Eversti would want to return before he found some kind of information on his children. 
This village was much like others he's visited in this patchwork world. Nondescript buildings surrounded by nondescript people. A girl of blue hair, and young but still an adult looking in age made eye contact with him when they entered so he only looked to offer her a smile even with hidden lips. 
Her head was snapping away as quickly as it could until his voice chimes.
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"Excuse me, Miss? Can you help me for a moment?"
And pink eyes only widen as her face pales and the woman finds herself practically frozen in place. 
"L-L-Lord M-M-Makenshi." Her voice shakes in the same way a leaf would when the wind rustles through the trees. "What an honor it is for you to grace us with a visit today." 
His face grimaces when she speaks as his shoulders raise in his tension only to fall again in defeat seconds later. His hands raise up, flat as if to stop her trembling without touching her.
"This is entirely unnecessary.  I just need a bit of your help, if you would be so kind."
"Ah - I - Of course My Lord, whatever you desire." 
"You really don't need - It's fine. I just need to know if you've seen any children recently that don't belong to the town. Humans. One would have yellow looking hair and dresses in red. The other tall and in a suit of armor.  Have you seen anyone matching these descriptions?"
Her head shakes quickly as her arms stay folded with her hands close to her chest.  The fear in her eyes made plain as she looks at him.
"N-n-no My Lord. No one. No one has come through the village for several days, but I can't claim to pay proper attention to all who cross these parts. Fo-forgive me for not being more useful."
He's sighing again as she sounds and waving a hand in the air as if to dismiss whatever wrong doings she thinks she's committed.
"That's quite alright. Thank you for your time. "
He can hear the man behind him groaning and as he turns to face his companion there are words he doesn't know if he's quite ready to deal with at the present moment.
"When we met, you told me to call you Makenshi. Not Lord Makenshi. Why do these people call you that?" The Amestrian inquires.  "What's more... they're terrified of you."
There is no motion to turn around and face the man. There's no motion to stop as he simply starts walking again instead of answering his question.
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"That's not... important. We need to focus on finding any information we can about your sons before Cid's blasted alarm goes off and checks in on us."
He's still not stopping, and the only other motion the Misterican makes is to lift his left wrist where the mechanic's invention lives and he shakes it as if to draw attention to it instead of him.
The dark haired man's eyes are narrowing on his companion as he speaks again. 
"I'd say that's pretty important. People don't tend to want to help someone they're afraid of. That, or they'll be too busy panicking to remember anything. So, what's the story?"
But the Misterican fails to turn once again and continues to keep walking. They don't have time for this right now. Cid might have given him more time this round but the blond was still checking in on him regularly to make sure progress was being made or seeing if they could do anything on their own end should useful information come about, so the words 
"I will explain it all later. We need to focus on the task at hand." 
are all that leave the Light's Unlimited, causing him only to stop in his tracks when he can hear the man's body practically shift and become ready to fight back.  Misterica's heir does the only thing he can think to in that moment and that is to turn on his heel and he swings his arm snapping his right hand clearly in front of the younger man's vision as if to pull his attention straight to him. 
His voice raises and he yells "Focus. Do you want to find your sons or not?"
But obsidian eyes are burning. Burning like Brother's fire and he can feel their heat rolling in his direction. He can't say he much cares for it either. 
"I am focusing on the task at hand. We won't get anything out of these people if they're afraid. I know that for a fact."
There are eyes on them now and he can feel the village's gaze fix on his person from his back to his front. They're making a scene and now this village is fixated on the ghastly intruder that has crossed into their sacred land. 
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"Well I can't change that, so just keep moving." The annoyance is growing in a tone that is normally so very gentle as jade eyes narrow down and his nose wrinkles from behind his mask. 
"He's angry."   
                   "Oh no. That poor man."  
                                                                               "That's Lord Makenshi isn't it?" 
                "It sure is. That poor fool's spoke his last line." 
"No one escapes the devil's wrath."
                                                  "Children go inside. You don't need to see this." 
    "Only an idiot would raise their voice to  one of the Lords of Gaudium." 
                               "Especially of all of them - him." 
It's then that the Amestrian's eyes burn hotter than ever before as he bellows
 "You think I don't want to find them? Do you know how agonizing it is to not know if they're alive or not? I told you already that I lost my son once. I've been nothing but forthright with you. Can you say the same?"
The town fills with the sounds of small gasps and doors closing. There are as many people fleeing the streets as there are now staring at the man in white waiting to know what he'll do next. What will Lord Makenshi  -  
"I have told you what was relevant to finding your children and getting you and your people home. That's what matters here. Returning you to your Amestris! So stay focused!!" 
The masked man's voice echoes as he meets the Amestrian's passion in kind and doors slam all around them. 
"This is the end."
 "Surely Lord Makenshi is going to kill that man." 
"Get the children off the streets. They don't need to see what is about to happen!" 
  "That boy. He dresses in white."
 "That devil no doubt." 
                                         "Are you a fool? that's Lord Makenshi"
 "Lord Makenshi?! Why would he be here?!" 
                               "You know if he shows in your town then everyone is doomed." 
"We've done nothing to anger Gaudium why would he be here." 
                                                                    "Lord Makenshi truly is the white devil." 
                                        "We're all going to die."
               "Keep your voice down, they say he has the ears of a demon." 
       "Because he is one." 
                   "Oh how have we been scorned by God to deserve this."
                                                       "We're all going to die because of that human!" 
And that was when the volcano erupted.  Everst's voice ringing loud to encompass the space around them. 
"I am. No one's going to talk to us if they're afraid." He gestures to the closed doors. "I can't be much help if I don't have more information." He's pinching the bridge of his nose. "Please, just give me something to work with so we can at least get through this town." He pauses only to glare further. 
"Or, am I really going to die because I pissed you off?"
He's been listening. Eversti has been listening to the space around them and he can hear doors slamming and a mixture of footsteps scattering and marching. He can hear so much going on at once that he can't answer.  He can't answer as his hands raise to cover his ears as he feels his body shake from the fool of emotions that are rushing his system faster than he has a chance to process -  
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Marching.  It's a little further off on the edge of town.  He can hear marching.  The organized sound of boots against the dirt. 
                                         "Search the town. Leave no stone unturned." 
               "If we can bring our God, Lord Makenshi then surely he'll reward us." 
"I don't care if you have to burn it to the ground - no one leaves this town until we find him." 
                                                "Spread out." 
His breathing is picking up by the second as his mind fills with static. It's happening. He's caught. He's caught if he stays here too long and he can't fight inside the town. He can't give these people more of a reason to hate him then they already do. He's panicking as his head darts up and his hands fall away from his ears. 
He's looking in one direction and then the opposite as if to check to see if he can spot any of the opposing threat. His incoming captors if he's not careful.  They won't - they can't harm the town if he's not in it.
"They're here." He states frantically,  looking at the Amestrian with a wild look in his eyes. "They found me."   
The man in white looks as if he could be spooked by his own shadow before he turns away from his companion and runs.   
"We've never met."   echoes back from his trail as he forces himself into what is left of the crowd in the streets, only to weave in and out of buildings and back alleys until he can find himself coming to forest on the outskirts of town. 
There's no time to look back. He'll find Eversti again once he knows the coast is clear but he cannot let Gaudium take them both.  He cannot let Gaudium harm Eversti or the town.  So his left hand is flying up to his left ear, thumb pushing against the button along the bottom while he sounds out trembling. 
"Cid? Cid?  Cid can you hear me? Cid are you there? Cid answer me! Cid answer me! It's - It's Gaudium.  Cid answer me! It's Gaudium and they're on my trail. Cid! Cid I need Black Wind! Cid you have to tell Black Wind! Please Cid! Cid Answer me!"
'Why would anyone answer you, Little Cloud? You think they're your friends? I told you once and I'll tell you again. The people of this world don't care for you. They never have and they never will. That dog can't save you either. Why do you beg for someone who cares nothing for you?'
He can't be hearing this right now. He doesn't have the time. He needs to get away from the town. He needs to get away from the town so should they find him, they can't make the people of that village page for his disobedience.
Just like so many had in the past.
So many forced to pay his debts.
So his mask is flooding back as he lets his steps slow. His heart is doing no such thing, but his feet come to halt nonetheless. He needs to focus. He needs a way to run. He needs a way to get away unseen, so he needs to act like the Misterican he is and make himself some form of cover.
Quivering lips are parting as he lets himself exhale. One long and deep exhale to allow a rolling cloud of thick white to leave him. It floods through the trees, covering the ground to swallow all in it's path. This should buy him some kind of time. This should - give him some kind of advantage. At least this way they wouldn't be able to see and even if they could - it wouldn't be as well as he could. Not with his Mist in play.
No, his ears were far too sensitive for that.
He just needs to hide long enough until his soul's breath takes effect and puts them all to sleep. He just needs to wait for -
"This isn't going to work."
"If you think you can wait us out in your little cloud, you're wrong."
"We just want to talk, My Lord."
"His Excellency would just like you to return to him."
"If you can do that, this won't need to get ugly."
"There's no need to go to such extremes, Lord Makenshi."
' Little Cloud. Little Cloud, don't ignore me. You know if you don't come home soon, then more of Wonderland will die. You can hear it too, can't you? Our beautiful song? You know they all die for you. Just for you, My Precious Little Cloud.'
The voices of his pursuers are mixing with that monster's within his mind. If they get their hands on him they'll take him back to Anarchy. They will take him to that beast and - if that monster gets his hands on him again then - then - then - Oh he can feel himself growing sick while the images of Black Wind's corpse fill his mind.
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He has to hold his hands over his mouth to stop himself from making any form of noise. Back pressed against a tree trunk, he feels like his heart is beating with the ferocity of a thousand war drums. He can just kill them. He could just slaughter them all but if he does then what will that say to the people of this town and what will it say to Eversti?
Killing them all would be so easy and he can feel that beast wrapping around him from the corridors of his mind and urging him to do so. It has become such a thoughtless motion in recent years. It wouldn't cost him more than a couple of minutes to strip these men of their entrails but doing that would - doing that wouldn't be right.
He isn't supposed to kill unless he doesn't have any other choice. Lady Tiamat would be ashamed that he even considered doing so... but ...
Finally does he find enough composer in himself to pull his hands away from his face and swing around to look for the men hunting him. He can hear them for the most part. He can hear leaves crunching under thick boots and as he squints through the Mist that's when he catches sight of one of them enough to notice the state of his mask - a - he's wearing a mask.
He's wearing a damnable face mask! They came prepared for this! They came prepared to take him in at any cost.
"We'll make you a deal, My Lord. Come with us and we won't take it out on the town."
"Refuse us and the town burns to the ground. "
"The White Devil takes another town tonight or you come with us and no one gets hurt."
"But what do you care about a few hundred lives?"
"You've slaughtered thousands in the name of His Excellency, haven't you?"
"So come out here and we won't hurt you or the town."
"We know you've sided with the Black Wind."
"His Excellency is most disappointed."
"It's time to return home, Lord Makenshi."
They're right. They're right and he knows it. They're right and he knows he can't run anymore. If he just gives himself up and goes back to that beast.
If he goes back to that beast then he's going to die.
How many times?
It's better if he's the one that dies than the town -
It's better if he's the one that dies than if Eversti were the one to get -
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There's a sigh of defeat and he can already hear Black Wind cursing him in his mind. He can hear the Windarian cussing rolling off his Other's lips as he allows his body to float out from the position he was hiding in, hands raised to either side of his head.
He got away once, he can do it again. He got away ....with Black Wind's help. He'll be furious but he'll come for him. He just has to believe that Black Wind will come for him again. For the sake of that village, he can't risk doing anything foolish and -
"That's right. We only want to talk, My Lord. It's time to go back to His Excellency."
A man appears behind him, grabbing his wrists and pulling them down behind his back.
"On the ground." He demands and the Misterican obeys allowing his feet to sink to the ground. He can feel his captor working to tie his wrists behind his back and it takes everything in him to resist the urge to shake the man off of him. It takes everything in not to flip the man to the ground then and there only to summon the Maken to his aid.
He doesn't need his hands to defend himself and they will learn this in the grimmest way possible if they cross him and harm the town outright. There's nothing else to do here and he just has to trust that Black Wind will come -
"You’ll have to get through me first."
A voice roars through the forest, echoing all around him like a grand dragon declaring war upon on all that stand in it's path. There are those same burning obsidian orbs glaring darts in his direction, but this time they aren't looking at him.
This time he could have sworn the Amestrian was trying to burn the man behind him to ASH.
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alchemic-elric · 1 year ago
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°✩₊ 𖤓 ₊✩° "Horns?" The armored boy echoes for a moment as his attention shifts from sibling to sibling. He can't imagine anyone normal with horns and somehow his mind is painting a picture of some scary monster with white hair covering it's entire body and massive dark purple horns. The next thing they're going to tell him is that their friend spits fire... or maybe the other one does. A man as tall as he is? Sounds more like Major Armstrong... but if he's friends with this 'Kumo' fellow then he can't possibly be normal either.
Nothing in this place seemed to be that expect these kids. Even their chickens were oversized.
Still the other one - the boy - Yu - wanted to know what the people Brother was with were like so he's shifting his weight for a moment - as well as one can when they were an empty suit of armor only to let a half hmmm sound while he thinks about it.
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"Pink." He starts. "I didn't get a very good look at them but there was a man with them and he was very pink. From his clothing to his hair. He just materialized a weapon out of nothing. It was like alchemy but at the same time not. There were others but I couldn't see them that well. A man in a long coat and a hat. A giant monster looking beast and a woman. She was also pink. Pink and green. I - " he pauses for a moment as he tries to think harder on the subject but only can remember falling straight through the ground.
"- don't remember much beyond that. Sorry. Does that sound like anyone you know? Maybe we'll be able to find them again and find brother, but knowing Ed he'll be his usual idiot self and not stay with someone so he's easier to find. But Brother's so loud we're bound to find him pretty easy."
He hopes.
He can only hope that Ed will stay with someone and find someone to help. He can only hope that Ed won't go running head long into this world in an attempt to find him without any sense of direction. Not that Ed has a sense of direction anyway.
"- So then your friends. Where do you think we'd find them? Do you really think just yelling for them, would be that easy? Are they close then?"
They may not know everything there is to know about Wonderland, but what information they could provide should be serviceable, especially for the questions that were being asked. Yu is the one to begin speaking yet again, as Ai already seemed back on the hunt for their Unlimited friends.
"This is a place called Wonderland- I might have said that already but I'm not sure-" he starts. "It's sort of hard to describe it, really- The best way to say it, is to call it some kinda patchwork world- There's bits of a whole lot of worlds in here, so it's no wonder you got stuck-" He opts not to mention the danger their world is in yet, not due to any lack of trust, but because the children can't be sure what happened to the young man before coming here. A flash didn't seem like enough to mean the end of a world as they knew it, but who could be sure?
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But then, the people they met... Why did it give him such an uneasy feeling? Everyone in Wonderland was a bit strange, it shouldn't mean anything to him. And yet, he almost feels prompted to ask, "What were they like? I mean, it'd be good to know, right? Especially since there's a whole lot of weird looking people around here-"
Ai perks up when Yu falters a bit, mostly at the mention of the friends in question. "Well, we didn't lose these guys, we met up with them a lot on our first trip here, and they're super helpful! We wanted to find them because we got worried about something, and wanted to warn them about it- Their names are Kumo and Kaze! Kumo's got white hair, and has big dark purple and shiny horns, and Kaze's a big ol' guy, almost as big as you, and he's super grumpy all the time-" It makes Yu think, once she brings it up again. Could this be the problem they'd been alerted to? Were the forces of Chaos getting active again?
No, he shouldn't worry so much. Right now, the trio had to stay focused, they all had people to find. If Ed was on the way, great! But if not, at least they'd have more sensitive and careful ears to fall back on.
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alchemic-elric · 2 years ago
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In reference to ( x )
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⋆。˚☽˚。⋆ Cloud Fluff was fuckin' missing. It's been two god damn days and he hasn't shown his fuckin' face at all. This wasn't like him. This wasn't like him at all. Where was that stupid sonnavabitch?
The blond is racking his brain trying to think of what could have happened when the dumbass said he was only going to be out for a few hours. He didn't die, did he? No. He's immortal...but he's royalty and they gotta worry about like assassinations and shit like that right? Did he get abducted? Royalty has to worry about that bullshit too, don't they?
But seriously, who would want him? He's just going to set there and complain about Sunglasses and ramble on and on for hours until he finally gets hungry and whines for sugar. He doesn't know what the motive is here, but that sounds fuckin' annoying to him. Like Cloud Fluff is a good guy, but damn the fucker could talk.
And on that note, maybe that was all that this was. Fucker got so caught up in conversation that he stayed for dinner and spent the night. Really, he wouldn't put it past him. But it was a fucking problem now because that asshole has papa and all the other Mistericans in an uproar and it makes him wonder for a moment why Cloud Fluff didn't take along that Revon guy. He was supposed to be his guard, wasn't he?
He didn't know the details of the entire situation. Maybe he did. He didn't fucking know. All he knows is that spear boy is just about losing his fucking mind trying to figure out where Cloud Fluff ran off to. Sunglasses isn't here either. Both those fuckers have just up and gone missing. Maybe they're together. Who fuckin' knows? Woulda been fuckin'nice to get told though.
He's meandering his way through this palace (and damn he never thought he'd be living in one of these fuckers but Cloud Fluff insists) to find his brother because maybe he's been able to figure more out than he has because right now the elder of the Elric pair is coming up with a whole lotta nu'hin'.
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"Yo." He sounds towards the (much to his dismay) taller blond causing a pair of nearly matching golden eyes to turn in his direction and face him. "You seen Cloud Fluff anywhere? Ev'rybody's freakin' the fuck out."
There is a frown pulled onto pale lips as the younger sighs for a moment and blond brows stitch themselves upward in half worry-half annoyance.
"No Brother, White Cloud has been missing for two days. No one knows where he is and he's made no contact since he left the other morning to check on sector 73. He said he'd only be gone a few hours but he needed to go speak with a few towns personally. He should have been back by now."
"Yeah well, all this worryin' he's got ev'rybody doin' is fuckin' dumb. 'e's bein' real heavy headed 'er whatev'r the hell 'e's always sayin' is. Ei'her way 'e's bein' a fuckin' idiot."
"Aren't you worried?"
"No." The elder replies plainly. "You know what that asshole can do just as well as I do. Fucker took down like god or some shit a few years ago. You really wanna fuck with that? You think anyone wants to fuck with that? Fuck. No. I don't and I don't think any sane mother fucker does either. Cloud Fluff is a nice guy and all but that bastard is a walking army. I don't think anyone is stupid enough to cross him."
Alphonse's arms cross over his chest and he frowns a little deeper as he thinks about it all for the moment.
"And we have the ability to manipulate basically anything with our bare hands and you know full well that people still mess with us being fully aware of this fact."
"---God Dammit Al. Are you trying to make me worry?"
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"No. I'm trying to get you to see reason, because I know you like him quite a bit and I don't want you to either numb yourself to it and ignore it or panic yourself silly like Dad's doing. We need sharp minds to tackle this, so I think we should take a couple chocobos and investigate. We know he was in sector 73. So at least we know where to start asking questions."
The elder is groaning as he listens, mismatched arms crossed over his chest in half annoyance as he does.
"God I fucking hate it when you're right. Let's go. Everyone else is too busy losing their heads over this. Someone needs to find his dumbass."
"So it would be counterproductive if we lost ours. C'mon brother let's go."
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angcrmanagcmcnt · 11 months ago
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They are two different beings made to coexist as one. They are two different ends of a spectrum, arguably; human and 'monster'.
They are simultaneously sisters and complete strangers.
They are two and they are one, and they are halves of a whole and two complete people, and neither would be alive without the other. Perhaps that in and of itself is the cruelty of their particular circumstances; they cannot do anything without the other, and there can never truly be silence in the little space that lies between them.
They coexist well enough, for two beings so different.
Lyssa is sunshine personified, a ray of joy and light that radiated hope and adoration to those she held dear, and Anger is.....well, she is Anger. Ire and spite, fury that hardly knew any bounds, all condensed into one small little form, ready to burst at the seams at any slight; whether it be perceived or genuine.
Such a wonder it is, that these two ended up stuck together.
It is not such a wonder that they have their ornery moments.
It starts with them being worried about their family's disappearance.
Lyssa would argue that worried is not even half of it, and all Anger wants to do is argue lately, it seems. Argue about what they should do, about whether to stay inside and await everyone's return or go out and actively search.
Anger wants to stay put, to wait for them to come back because of course they're going to come back. They can't not come back.
Lyssa does not share the sentiment. She does not hope and she does not wish, she's run out of patience for both of those things, and she is tired of waiting. The last time she was a sitting duck hadn't ended very well and she does not want a repeat of history.
They can both feel the tension in the air, feel the dread pooling in the recesses of their shared existence.
Neither of them like it, of course; who would?
It all comes to a head a week after Ed, Al, and Mr. Mustang disappeared.
It had been calm, for the most part. They didn't know what was going on outside; they hadn't even set foot outside of the house since the day everything turned upside down.
Lyssa had been looking at the food that was left in the cupboards. There was still plenty enough for them to eat, as long as they were careful, but food for the pets was running low. She was making plans, mumbling to herself about trying to get more food for the animals, when Anger spoke up in the back of her mind.
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" We aren't gonna go outside, right? "
They've had this conversation a million times, in a million different ways.
And it seems they have to have it again.
" We have to, Anger. Yuki needs food, and we have to look for everyone. "
" I don't want to. "
The response is so fast that Lyssa startles and almost knocks a can over, but her response comes easily despite it, accompanied by a sigh.
" I don't care, we have to and you know it. We can't stay here forever, Anger. "
" Don't just say that. "
The words have a bite to them that Lyssa is, at this point, familiar with. It's difficult not to, with her little head roommate being the very incarnation of someone's Anger. As a fortunate side effect, she's grown accustomed to dealing with said head roommate when she gets a little too snappy.
But Lyssa is tired of it.
" I get that you're mad— "
" 'm not fuckin' mad— "
" You're Anger, your default is mad— "
" Y'know what, go fuck yourself! I don' give a shit, 'm not leavin' this fuckin' house 'til they come back! "
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" And if they don't? "
There is a sudden quiet in their shared space and Lyssa knows she's made a mistake, misstepped in the worst way possible, but she's come this far and has to stick to her guns. This isn't part of the latest script, but it needs to be acknowledged.
It is a horrifying possibility, but a possibility nonetheless.
" …They will. They always do. "
A possibility that Anger refuses to accept.
And Lyssa is tired of it.
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" Anger, they're alchemists— "
" The fuck're you tryin'a get at here— "
" If you shut up an' let me finish maybe I could get to it! "
Silence fills the air with a kind of dread Lyssa knows well. The other shoe hangs in the air, a hair's breadth away from collapsing to the ground, but she waits in the silence for a few moments longer. She doesn't want another interruption, even if she knows it's inevitable.
" They're alchemists, Anger, they're not invincible. They're human, an' you.....you know how breakable they are. "
" I swear, if you're— "
Being reasonable? Being logical? She isn't listening to Anger anymore as she prattles on about something and all Lyssa knows is that there is a ringing in her ears and her nails are digging into the palm of her hand so hard it hurts.
All she knows is that she is angry. And she needs to calm down because the rage that bubbles within hasn't gotten her anywhere before.
Even if her anger is how she survived, she doesn't like to think about it.
She doesn't want to go back to the rage, not today, but Anger is making it oh so very hard, and Lyssa can feel the dam cracking. It could break any moment and all it needs is one wrong step before—
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" Aren't you listenin' to me? "
The dam shatters and she is yelling.
" Well it ain't like I got much've a damn choice is there?! You're always in my fuckin' head and you never shut up! Nothin' ever shuts up, either ev'ryone is screamin' or you're goin' on some damn rant about God knows what! I don't care, Anger, we're leavin' and that's that! You can't stop me! "
One beat, two. She pants, out of breath and Lyssa thinks for one, feeble moment, that she's won.
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The sense of victory is ripped away from her reach as her right arm is suddenly moving without her input. It reaches up and grabs a strand of her hair and tugs violently, hard enough to jerk her head to one side. She cries out and grips her rogue limb with the one she can still control, holding it in place.
She's barely aware of Yuki barking, and a hollow feeling floods her at the words that come from Anger, eerily quiet and worst of all, calm.
" I can an' I will. "
Dread worms its way into her, and the terror helps adrenaline flow faster even if Lyssa can't use it. She doesn't want to go back. She doesn't want to be stuck in the dark again, she doesn't want to have her own body ripped away from her grasp.
" Anger, please— "
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" No! You think 'm gonna let you waltz outta here an' get us killed?! Nice try, but that ain't happening! You might have a death wish, but I don't! "
And then there's silence. It fills the space between them and fills Lyssa's thoughts with fear. It's hard to breathe. Why is it hard to breathe? It feels like her lungs are seizing in her chest, like—
She tries to draw in a breath. It feels like her lungs rattle with the effort it takes, yet there's still no reprieve, and she can feel herself sinking, hear the screams growing louder as her vision blurs and fades. She doesn't want to go back. She doesn't want to be drowned out again. She—
She's scared.
She tries to grip the counter, and she tries to stay, but it's no use as her vision swims and spirals. She can still hear Yuki barking, closer now, as her legs fold beneath her and Lyssa gasps. Tears burn her eyes.
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" Please, " she tries again, and nearly chokes on the word.
Silence is her only reply, and just like that, she's forced back down into the darkness and the screaming.
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Three days pass before Lyssa is able to wrangle control again.
She doesn't bring up the idea of leaving again.
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terroreigns · 1 year ago
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Continued from [ X ]
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...Well, now that was quite the unfortunate development.
The magician could only watch as the crevice in spacetime swallowed up the younger of the boys, screams cut short as his body was warped to an entirely different location. A twitch of gloved fingers signified an action withheld; The facade was firmly in place. For now, at least. A shift of displeasure somewhere within their very core, the deity of the wretched place known as Wonderland entirely unhappy about the setback.
"Told you so..." The man in dark sea-green muttered in dull monotone that somehow still conveyed irritation. The woman, who had since dismounted, elbowed him in the ribs and shook her head.
The remaining alchemist boy was frantic, gaze of gilded orbs darting between the ground and his candyfloss savior, latching onto their closest arm in open terror. The Troupemaster's brows angled in concern, before gloved hands seized the youth's shoulders and their posture stooped to bring their (already quite similar) heights closer together.
"Look, I'm going to need you to calm down now, as outrageous a request as that probably sounds like." The pink-haired man (or, at least, a being of a notably ambiguously gendered visage) spoke with a firm and grounding gentleness. Their voice was soft and smooth as silk, almost too flawless a tune to belong to a human. Then again, was anyone even human around these parts...? Wonderland had a tendency to gleefully disagree.
Familiarity was the kind of luxury not easily afforded in a puzzle of worlds, after all. And now, the boy's sole kin was whisked away between the cracks.
"I'll help you. I promise I will. But for now, we have to get out of here, lest we share his fate and get scattered every which way. Not a fan of that personally, as I'm sure you would agree. Come!"
The magician's hand found one of metal; A reminder of the child's part machine identity. Whatever had happened to render his limbs of flesh away from him...? A question that begged for an answer, but the being of Wonderland knew well not to inquire too hastily.
Almost as if on cue, a thin line crisscrossed the ground where Edward had stood just moments prior, snaking and writhing as reality itself struggled in vain to regain shape. The entire sector was unstable due to the influence of the great shattered beast, the Mind of which was now yelling for them to run as a handwatch clicked all over again, enveloping the merry band and the boy alike in a bubble of accelerated spacetime.
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"Wow! Talk about immediately relevant foreshadowing!~" The person in pink giggled with a not insignificant degree of nervousness.
"Quickly! The connexon..!" The plantlike woman called out, a motion of her parasol causing vines to emerge from the soil and climb upwards rapidly, forming an improvised bridge that led back to the overlooking cliff.
There was another rift, far more stable than the flickering and spreading ones left below. This time, it led seamlessly to some strange black and red dimension, the ground beneath giving way to a smooth crimson surface.
It was only then that the group finally stopped running, the sound of panting and the occasional cuss overtaking the otherwise perfect silence of this strange inbetween. Were the boy to look over his shoulder, he would be met with the warped image of the sunless realm of fungi, quivering like the surface of a disturbed pond before it flickered out altogether, leaving a gaping chasm of nothingness where there once was land.
Like a wound upon the world, leading straight out into the depths of space. Somehow, physics seemed not to mind the sudden window into the vacuum. The particles of air were thankfully not too keen on being violently sucked out and taking everyone else with them. Now that would be quite the unsatisfying conclusion to the renowned Fullmetal's story.
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"Wow, I sure am glad we're not dead!" the magician recovered their breath and promptly announced, in a tone far too perky for the situation at hand.
All was well that ended well - or so the rumors said.
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shiroi---kumo · 2 years ago
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It's a frantic mess that is sobbing into him and the only thing the Snow White Prince brings himself to do in response is to continue to stroke his hand through dark locks as he starts to hum. A soft wordlessly tune as he listens and he allows this human to move in as close to him as possible. To allow this man to find some form of refuge in this strange land and if that refuge happens to be him then so be it.
Of all the lost ones he's found in this world, this man has been the most confused. This one had been the most injured. This one was the one in critical condition when he found him and his situation had been the most dire. Of all the lost souls he's found in Wonderland, Herra Fuery worried him the most.
To say things like allowing your home to burn if all your loved ones were okay -it bothered him. To sob that one did not want to return to the land of their birth - it made his stomach upset. Not out of anger or any other sort of negative emotion but instead worry and concern.
What could have happened that was so miserable that Herra Fuery would not want to return to his home? To say that the others did not care about him? What did Eversti say; what did Eversti do that made Herra Fuery think such a thing? If it was one thing that he could say about both Miss Riza and Eversti, it was that bother of them were horrendous about showing their emotions.
He warned them about this. He warned them that concealing their emotions would get someone they loved hurt because sometimes that hurt isn't physical. Sometimes that hurt is an aching heart spent wondering if the object of it's affection will ever quite feel the same. The same or well - anything at all.
There are all kinds of ways to die but succumbing to a broken heart has to be one of the most painful. He can't say he wants that for Herra Fuery. He can't say he wants him to truly know what that pain feels like - so if he can give the man at least one person who cares - one person who can let this man know they care whether or not he's alive then maybe - just maybe he can soften the ache that is infecting that Amestrian heart.
Herra Fuery declares that he is tired, and apologizes for it but there are jade eyes watching the puffs of white making it into the air and all around them and he can't quite say he blames the man when he knows exactly why. It was part of the reason why he agreed to follow the man back to his room in the first place. Why he agreed to keep him company - partly anyway, because the prince was already well aware of the fact that if he could only end up doing one thing for this man tonight, it would be giving him a decent night's rest.
Just by remaining maskless in his presence. No deep exhales required. Just a polite conversation and his Mist would start to work it's magic. Just a quiet exchange and this frazzled man might be abel to find some form of comfort for the night. Still however the man grips at the back of his shirt albeit looser than he had been moment's ago. Still Herra Fuery stays as close to him as possible so the Misterican is shifting again to lean forward and guide the man back down so he can lay flat against the mattress they are both perched on.
He said he wouldn't leave. He said he would not leave unless Herra Fuery asked him to and if Valkoinen Pilvi was anything, he was a man of his word. So once he's made sure this human he's taken under his wing is laying back and comfortable, that's when he starts to settle himself. The Maken is leaned up against the wall on the other side of the chair he was setting in just moment's ago. The Maken is safe and within proper distance, so the prince finds himself laying down on his side and propping his head up on his left arm at the lack of a pillow to do so.
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"Sleep Herra Fuery, I will be here." He assures. "If you wish to be close to me, I do not mind. It is normal in my culture."
Another round of white clouds roll into the air in small puffs as the prince speaks. He could already see that this heart was lost at sea, but if it was the last thing he did - he would not let him drown.
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He only realizes that his hair's started to grow out just a little when he feels fingers running through it.
Everything's changed, and yet it's all stayed the same. It's hard to keep up the self-deception much longer.
His fingers tighten on whatever fabric is under them, holding on just so he can exist like this a little longer.
Why does a stranger care more than anyone else he's ever known?
The question echoes over and over in his mind, taunting him because he doesn't have an answer. He's wanted to believe he's not alone in the world since he was little, that someone out there had his back, but they've all hurt him or pushed him away somehow.
"H-He- the- the first thing he brought up— I-I wouldn't- I wouldn't do that to him, I've- I've done everything for- for everybody and they don't- they don't care about me and- I'm sad," he rambles, barely able to get any words past his sobs but it's not like he can stop trying. He takes a few shuddering breaths if only so he can make more sense.
He has no clue how to get his feelings out properly, but they're just going without him at this point - proper language be damned.
"I was so excited, the... the whole time, the whole time you were bringing me here, because- because I love them and- and I thought- but- but they don't, they see me like I'm fine as long as I can work- I'm only my work, but I just- I just wanted a hug or something, you know?"
His entire body feels heavy, and he's not sure if it's some weird adrenaline crash again or if he's being dragged into another probably-not-restful sleep by a body that has been going too much for too long. It doesn't feel like either of those, though. This doesn't feel like anything he can fight, and he's honestly not motivated to try.
The sergeant's cries come to a gradual halt, reducing to sniffles, his grip on White Cloud's shirt loosening as they do.
"And now... 'm tired. Sorry..."
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valtsv · 1 year ago
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you like '03 fma better? i'll be honest im not surprised!
its themes are more appealing to me; i prefer the greater emphasis on the horror and tragedy of the story, particularly the more explicit acknowledgement of the corruption and state sanctioned violence of the military police state of amestris (which was amply covered in brotherhood, i'm not denying that, but '03 felt like it took that more seriously and addressed some of the darker aspects more unflinchingly) and the mercenary ruthlessness of the state alchemist scheme, which allows ed to be recruited and subsequently severely traumatized as a child soldier. and the homunculi being former humans who died violent and untimely deaths, resurrected and brought back as twisted, unrecognizable versions of themselves driven by a terrible hunger to be something more than just half-formed monsters wearing the faces of people who were loved makes them far more compelling imo. lust's arc in 03 made her one of my favorite characters.
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raucous-cacophony · 5 months ago
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thinking a lot about fullmetal alchemist and due to the power of my adhd being medicated i have a lot to say about it
(i finally started reading the manga after having watched FMA:B a few times)
(spoilers below cut)
i didn't really pick up on this before, it's really hitting hard how the core theme of FMA is Hiromu Arakawa trying to process the trauma of growing up in post-war Japan, thinking as a child that their country is just and right and good, and then slowly discovering the extent of Japan's war crimes and the depravity and evil that the country sunk to during the war. (there are MANY. Unit 731 seems particularly relevant to Marcoh's philospher's stone research). and discovering how, at the end of the war, Japan's leadership was fully willing to sacrifice the civilian lives of the entire country to maintain their own personal glory (lots of similarities to The Father's plan to destroy all of Amestris in order to achieve godhood).
and like, in that context, Edward/Alphonse and Roy Mustang/Riza Hawkeye are such brilliant foils for eachother. both Edward and Roy Mustang are incredibly driven people with no fear of personal pain that are willing to do absolutely anything to achieve their own goals and better Amestris. but Edward is young, and hot-blooded, and a loose cannon, and (at the start) unaware of the evils committed in Amestris's name. and he gets angry when he discovers those. meanwhile, Mustang is older, and more measured and much more constrained by the military hierarchy he's operating in, and he directly helped commit many of the war crimes that Amestris perpetrated. but he's racked with guilt over the innocent lives he's taken, and rather than drifting through Amestris solving problems as they come up (like Edward), he's fully committed to working within Amestris's evil fascist dictatorship and pulling wires behind the scene in order to become the supreme leader of Amestris and make the government more righteous with the full power of an entire country behind him.
I've got less to say about Alphonse and Riza Hawkeye, but they both are committed to Edward/Mustang to the point of death. both Alphonse and Riza are more level-headed than their partners, will do anything to protect them, and have gone through a lot of personal pain in order to help them achieve their ultimate goals. Neither Edward nor Roy would be where they are without Alphonse or Riza's help. Both Alphonse and Riza were active partners in the sins their respective duos committed (human transmutation and war crimes). and, even separated from their partners, both Alphone and Riza are incredibly capable individuals that are more than able to hold their own.
this extends to the character design. look at how Edward and Mustang mirror eachother in their hair (bangs in particular) and angry expression
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and look at how Alphonse and Riza mirror eachother -- also in their hair and their large, expressive eyes
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what an incredible piece of art. love seeing the amount of love and care that went into this.
(P.S. Royai is like peak relationship goals. i want what they have)
(P.P.S. there's a lot of depictions of common people as honest, good, hardworking, and faithful people that are trapped in horrible machines beyond their control, esp. in the first few chapters (the Leto arc, the mining town arc). i really like how Arakawa goes out of her way to absolve the common people of the sins of their circumstances. it's good stuff)
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shiroi---kumo · 1 year ago
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⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ "For one, true immortality does exist and while I really wish it didn't, I can promise you I have a very reliable source to tell you that it does. It's a curse placed upon any man but more over The Unlimited. Tasked with keeping that beast at bay for all eternity. I can't say I'm a fan."
His voice is groaning as it drags out of him. Hands folded in his lap around the glass of water that exists within them and he rests there for a moment against the propped up pillows at the head of his bed with his eyes closed. This whole room is much too bright for his liking.
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"Chaos cannot die because it is impossible to truly slay a being that feeds on the negative emotions of living beings."
His words come bluntly as his eyes fail to open as he speaks. There is a long breath pulled into pressurized lungs only for mist coated lips to part and a thin stream of white to fall from them and into his lap. He's positive that if he just speaks plainly Miss Leota will understand. Of all the humans he's had to speak to in recent days she seems to be the one who is clocking the fastest - no offense intended to the others. They are just ruled so strongly by their emotions and she seems to be ruled by other things. Like facts and numbers. Equations and Math.
Opettaja Aamunkoitto would have adored her no doubt. Surely they could have had quite the conversation.
"So to assume Chaos can be equated to whatever monsters exist in your Amestris is not only brash but foolish. Wonderland at it's essence is Chaos. That is why the beast allows pieces of the worlds it consumes to survive. That is why it traps us here. We're only here to allow that beast to continue to feed with each and every nasty emotion we feel and the Unlimited being here only amplifies the problem."
He's sighing again, more of the thing white substance floating into the air only to sink down to the ground and hover just over the floor as it appears from seemingly nowhere. His head hurts too much for this but he told her he would answer all her questions if she helped him get back to this damnable prison cell that Cid insists is his room...he supposes it's better than Gaudium.
"So I really need you to get the idea that any of you Amestrians could do anything to harm it out of your head." His voice is blunt as he continues to lay there, eyes never shifting to face her as he pauses to take a long drink from the glass still nestled within his grip.
"It's arrogance at it's finest, and bluntly put, it's exhausting. If simply finding a core was all it took we would have done it by now and then neither of us would be in the nasty predicament we've landed ourselves in. It makes it sound like we haven't been doing anything and I can assure you, Miss Leota, that is hardly the case."
Somehow this conversation seems to have gotten a little bit personal all too quickly. Perhaps there's more that the cloud isn't saying....
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―  🜛  ―  not one to miss the opportunity to learn regardless of current feelings, she stretched out her fingertips and began combing her hair back in idle thought. Again and again. Combing. Again and again. Absorbing. Inhaling information like a bird seeking the touch of the skies, taking in each bit and guiding it beneath her wings. Soaring higher toward the sun. Perhaps to any other person taking in these words, it would be too much to handle at once  ―  had that been the reason he had spoken to her with such irritation? Surely by now he realized that she was not so common a whelp that simple explanations would harm her more basic functions. That her mind would swell and crack through the cranium? 
Somehow, like that wind beneath her wings, this too only adds to her need for heights even higher still. She continues her pacing as he speaks of these problems, taking it in as if each word had been writ as a tattoo upon her mind. No different than sitting within a classroom . . . the genre of that subject regardless, she takes it in. Once taken, it is kept. Even if it's not information that she particularly agrees with, it's best to understand the people she's dealing with. 
The thoughts continue to swirl around on her walk toward the chair for further rest ―  Chaos is not an 'it' or a figurative entity, but a 'he'. A world devourer that holds a physical form. Understood. This person ruled over Wonderland from . . . space? Inconceivable. Immortality? Something that can be killed but not permanently? 'We' have killed Chaos, but he doesn't remain dead. That he is just as immortal as the Unlimited . . . could she perhaps be going too far with his words to piece together that 'WE' could mean 'Unlimited', as in 'White Cloud, is an Unlimited who can only kill this Chaos'? A remark for later. At the very least, her ears seemed to perk up at his description of the immortal Chaos.
     " Hah. From the water to the monsters, ey? "     Truly. It was almost laughable how similar this world was to her own. The Alchemist slouched in her chair, arms hanging off the armrest like a bored child, but it was not a sign of disrespect from her. At least not this time. So now she speaks, smiling while concentrating at a spot on the ceiling and waving her arms about. Wafting in the waters of disbelief and attempts to understand this ludacris world. 
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     " For one. True immortality does not exist. Where I am from, there were indeed beings to which I presumed such. I was young, before the massacre in my homeland, before my eyes had been opened to what Alchemy was truly capable of. I believed them immortal. And yet, they were felled and never came back with much effort put behind it. Roy Mustang, for example. . . "    her lips parted to parrot the story that Wrath had told her, but they closed when remembering that Roy was already here and would most likely be best to retell it himself. After all, he was directly involved. Weary arms rise and fall across her eyes to shield the light. Humming in thought.
    " Mm. No. Best let him regale you with that story another time. Regardless of the storyteller, what exists cannot exist for all time. By what reason does Chaos return after he is killed? For the Homunculi, it had been their inner core that was reviving them. And when that core had been destroyed, so were they. Its power, out-powered. And so on. By the amalgamation of worlds here, surely, surely there is some bit of power that can render the deathless to oblivion? "  
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