#arc: amestris no more

[alchemic-elric]

⋆｡˚☽˚｡⋆ 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.

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!!

"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?

[angcrmanagcmcnt]

@shiroi---kumo asked: Spotify wrapped 64

Wrapped. | Accepting! | No. 64: Misguided Ghosts.

" We all learn to make mistakes—and run from them... "

[kuroki---kaze]

( @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?"

⋆୨𖤓୧⋆ 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.

"....tell me something. Is he in your eyes?"

[shiroi---kumo]

( @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."

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.

"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.

"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?"

[shiroi---kumo]

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ "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.

"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.

"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."

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."

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.

[alchemic-elric]

@lilhub asked:

💭 + Hey Edward. Whaddaya think of Cloud Puff?(for Wonderland Ed) Also. How did you even end up here?

"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?"

[angcrmanagcmcnt]

@kuroki--kaze asked: 🎁 -> 72

Wrapped. | Accepting! | No. 72: It Should've Been Me.

" Please, don't think less of me—I'm but a lonely soul, you see.... "

[shiroi---kumo]

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 ]

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.

"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.

"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. 

"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 -  

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.

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 -

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.

[shiroi---kumo]

The Misterican disappears without another word and it leaves the engineer / doctor to do his work. The Comodeen's newest addition states that he's met weirder than the Misterican prince and somehow he doubts that but he knows the Mist Prince has yet to really show off his weirdness to the other. Kumo has a habit of hiding his more alien qualities when he finds himself in new company after all. Still it earns a small laugh as the blond listens to the Amestrian's answers.

Ran on it for a while but he was attacked. He can only assume the thing in question that's being described Kumo dealt with. He'll have to ask him when he gets back with Mr. Mustang and Miss Hawkeye. As he assumes, this one's been out in the wilds of Wonderland - probably pretty clueless - for a while. What a way to get introduced to this place. He supposes that's just how it goes for some people unforunately so for as mad as he wants to be with the swordsman for running off again without saying anything, it's a good thing he did.

The blond can hear the attempt at making jokes with the end of explanation so he smiles at him, indigo eyes softening as he pulls the cuff back and listens to the man's story. Ghosts, huh? He sounds close to Mr. Mustang and from the uniform he would assume he must be one of his officers.

"Ghosts, huh? Well I can assume you for all the strange things I've encountered in Wonderland, ghosts haven't been one of them. So need to worry about that. It sounds like you and Mr. Mustang are pretty close. He'll be relieved to have you back then."

He's moving to shift through the tools he brought with him to adjust his focus.

"Now let's have a look at that leg. It sounds like we're going to have to set you in a brace for a while. I can get you a walker, so you can still get around by yourself though."

The smile on his face has stretched from ear to ear and he's been shifting through the halls talking from person to person asking where Evesrsti and Miss Riza are until a member points him to the dining hall where the Misterican manages to find the two of them setting down at table discussing something and under normal circumstances he would have left the two alone but these circumstances are less than normal.

So the prince allows himself to slip over to the side of their table, mask missing from his face so they can see his full expression and the wide smile that is stretching across his face. The pride he's feeling in his own accomplishments is nearly palpable.

"Eversti, Miss Riza. I do not mean to interrupt your conversation, and my apologies for doing so but there is an important matter at hand and I wish for you to accompany me post haste if you would please."

His arms are crossed over his chest and he stands there practically beaming about whatever it is that he believes is an important matter that needs to be attended to at this very instant.

"I was out combing through Wonderland and I have found someone else who hails from your Amestris. He was fairly injured however, so I brought him back to Cid so he could receive proper attention. He says he part of your family. So I thought I should come get you. Herra Fuery is currently in medical bay with Cid. So I came to bring you to him."

|| Shiroi---Kumo -> @flameleads -> justaradioguy

Well, at least it's seeming less and less likely that White Cloud - Kumo? - is lying. Nicknames are a thing. Kain's never had one, but "Kumo" does seem short and sweet.

He leaves Kain alone with Cid before the soldier can even reply with the next question he has.

What in the hell does "Eversti" mean, and why is it attached to Roy Mustang of all people? It seems almost too pretty of a word, given that the colonel is... a bit hotheaded from time to time. Maybe it is a word, in some foreign language Kain doesn't know and hasn't heard yet. He'll have to ask White Cloud later. And he'll have to ask what name that the guy wants him to use, too.

"I've met weirder," Kain replies, trying to remain lighthearted even though he's definitely still nervous. It seems that White Cloud hasn't liked his jokes so far, sadly - maybe Cid will be different. "I ran on it for a bit, not far, and I can't stand on it anymore... I think it was a better bet running from the thing that wasn't very affected by my gun than just standing around admiring the scenery, but you can tell me if that was the right call or not and I'll learn for next time."

He hopes there won't be a next time. He really, really hopes there won't be a next time.

"But yeah, I was out there long enough. It was worse than that time I thought there was a ghost and pissed off Colonel Mustang. Pretty sure he wanted my head for like, a week after that. And him angry is like... top tier terrifying."

[hawksights]

( @justaradioguy ) ->

Something is off with the Lieutenant. It's kind of obvious but in a way only someone who's been around them a lot would notice - small, subtle changes coupled with the fact they seem more exhausted than usual.

Part of him wants to leave it be. It's the part of him that's angry and trying to protect himself from Mustang, because Hawkeye is always going to be loyal to him. And he knows the Colonel will look out for them, knows that Hawkeye trusts him way more than they'd probably ever even think of trusting Kain, so... for a while, he doesn't bring it up.

He just keeps himself at a safe distance from both officers and waits for a task to be assigned.

That's where the guilty part kicks in, the one that reminds him that Hawkeye is their own separate person who should be spared his anger. They are not the one who sent him away, nor did their actions directly cause him to be deployed. Even if they don't care for him as much as he cares about them, at least they're clear about their goals and intentions. At least he would be unsurprised if they followed Roy and abandoned him.

It isn't their fault that Roy cares about them. It isn't their fault that Roy doesn't care about Fuery. They aren't the one being manipulative.

He makes up his mind that he can go find them that night, drags himself along with his makeshift cane in one hand and the chocobo he'd found a bit prior bundled up in the other.

Typically, lying is off the table as an option, but he's not stupid enough to think asking them if they want company will get him far. He has to turn it into them helping someone somehow.

It at least isn't difficult to come up with something. He knows he looks absolutely terrible given the fact he's been awake for going on twenty-four hours.

"Lieutenant? Can—"

Wrong. He shakes his head and corrects himself, voice a bit more flat than he wants it to be when he next speaks.

"Permission to come in?"

They didn't sleep well here.

At first, they blamed it on the new surroundings and people they didn't know well. It took them a while to grow accustomed to sleeping in a different bed when they joined the military, and the Comodeen compared to that. But, that wasn't the only factor. Learning about Chaos also had a role to play in their poor sleep, they imagined. The dark didn't just hide Pride and his shadows, but a being that could devour worlds...

And their trusted companion wasn't here. Black Hayate was nowhere to be found. He couldn't protect them from unseen forces---or, at least keep them company. They grew so accustomed to his presence at their side, and, now that he wasn't here... the world didn't feel right.

Riza couldn't justify asking to expand the search of Amestrians to Hayate too. After all, he was just an animal. It was silly to worry about him. Yet, they couldn't stop wondering if he ended up in this mismatched world, if he had food, if he was scared---they were. They left him with a sitter in Central, but there was no guarantee that he didn't end up in the Pillar of Darkness too. How did they even work? If people stayed away, was that enough? Probably not.

It didn't help that the Colonel's nerves were fraying too. The lack of news about Edward and Alphonse had him on edge, and Riza knew he felt useless. Every day, he was about two seconds away from leaving the Comodeen to search for them himself until they reminded him to stay put. His injury meant he couldn't travel far, and they couldn't afford him to get hurt too. It would be better if he focused on who currently was at the Comodeen. Begrudgingly, he always agreed, but his responses grew more terse with each passing day.

They sat on their bed that night, the light in their room on. Lights always stayed on for them when it got dark. The Colonel didn't question it after they explained Pride, but they weren't about to tell anyone else at the Comodeen about that Homunculus. Maybe Fuery and Breda since they knew what Homunculi were, and they witnessed them firsthand. Out of everyone here, Fuery might be the most understanding. He saw Gluttony, after all.

Speaking of him... what was he doing up? Did any member of their team know how to rest? No, that wasn't important. If he wanted to come in, it must be to discuss something. It wasn't as if they could sleep anyhow.

"Permission granted. Come in."

[terroreigns]

Continued from [ X ]

...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.

"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.

"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.

[alchemic-elric]

One minute he was walking with his brother the next he was falling without the ability to stop. There had been that giant monster and then that man with pink hair. There were others with him and they hardly looked human. He didn't have the time to process them or his situation much before he fell towards the ground and then through it. 

He had heard his brother screaming even as he fell. The last thing he saw was a pair of wide golden eyes and a hand reaching out for him in a desperate attempt not to end up alone…again. 

It had all been a little too familiar and he wouldn't blame Ed if he was nothing more than one mess of nerves imploding on themselves right now. The Elrics Brothers were a team after all - a packaged deal. Pull one away from the other and that was a sure fire way to trigger disaster. Even if that disaster was one of said brothers self destructing…or worse… both. 

So he didn't have the luxury of a breakdown when he finally found himself on the other side of whatever that was. Ed was losing his mind no doubt so that means one of them needed to remain dane even if they weren't in the same space. Those strange people were with Brother now and who knew if they were safe or not. Brother wouldn't care in that mental state; he'd do whatever it took to get his little brother back and that includes begging. 

If Alphonse knew one thing about his brother, it was that while prideful he may be - Edward Elric was not above begging if it got him the help he needed in a dire situation. When his Brother said he would do anything for him that meant not even his pride would get in the way of how far he'd go. When Ed said anything he meant anything.

And with the situation they're in… and this strange place they've ended up in…. Brother was likely to barter away whatever he was required to�� this really wasn't good.  This really wasn't good at all. Without his sound mind there to help Brother make decisions, the elder Elric is likely to get taken advantage of. He really needs to get back to Brother and quick…

But first he needs to figure out where he…even …is…

He's landed in what seems to be a forest….or well…what's left of it. Where his vision had once been filled with miles and miles of dirt road stretched before him now he was surrounded by trees both intact and …not. Ash and soot filled the winds and covered the lands before him. It looked like…a warzone. It looked like a disaster and the young alchemist found himself wondering for a moment what could make that kind of damage. 

Had there been a battle? Was there a war? He already assumed this land wasn't safe but he had no idea what part of Amestris they even ended up in or if they were still even in Amestris at all. All Alphonse knew was Edward was alone and the look of worried panic in his mind's eye had only updated the memory to a pair of gold eyes that was far more current than the last one had been.  He needed to find his brother no matter what. Priority one was finding Ed before Ed found what he considered help and did something stupid.

[shiroi---kumo]

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ "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.

"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....

―  🜛  ―  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. 

     " 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? "  

[angcrmanagcmcnt]

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.

" 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! "

" 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.

" 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—

" 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.

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— "

" 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.

" 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.

Three days pass before Lyssa is able to wrangle control again.

She doesn't bring up the idea of leaving again.

[valtsv]

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.

[shiroi---kumo]

@Flameleads [ X ] || There is a discussion of the Kings

Eversti says - no Roy says he can trust him. Miss Riza is just the same. It's going to take some adjustment to stop calling him Eversti when he'd been so strict about it beforehand. He understands the idea behind it though. They can't be equals, if he's always addressing the man by proper rank and not by name, all the time. It's always been different with him because he's always had them address him by name - even if the name he gave them was really nothing more than a translation.

It counts though right? Maybe they'll get to the point one day that he gives them in his name in his native tongue but for now he doesn't think it necessary for them to have to deal with the mouthful that was Valkoinen Pilvi.

But this moves them into new territory because Ever - Roy says he's willing to help in any way possible, even if that means explaining Amestrian Alchemy or doing whatever he can. He just - refuses how to control the hellfire that Miss Riza's father created and honestly the Misterican Prince finds himself without a desire to learn such a thing anyway. It would have been more up Usva's alley and Brother already knew how to control his own hellfire.

If he were going to learn how to control the flames then he would much rather spend the time to attempt to master them through his Mist even if that meant he would have to deal with the recoils of when he inevitably messed it up due the mismatched nature of the required Mist's colors. This could have been avoided if Brother had not been so stubborn and just taught him himself but No, the elder Misterican had refused to teach his little brother anything of the sort while he was still alive.

He supposes that means both he and Evest - Roy have things to learn then, because if the man before him can control in his Mist in any facet he still wants to know how and why. He still needs to understand how this human managed to bring about his death even if he had been injured at the time and even if it was completely accidental.

So his hands are gripping at the mug within his grip for the moment, only to pause his thoughts for the time being and trade them out with the soothing sensation of a warm liquid coating his throat. He's had just about enough of breakdowns and panic attacks today. Both sides of the situation has had their emotions stirred around like a bubbling pot and the contents were just as rancid as Black Wind's cooking.

He knows the man says he'll do whatever it takes and he's willing to teach whatever he's able but what is he willing to learn? Being ready to learn about Wonderland is not being ready to learn about Mist and bluntly put he still doesn't know if this man can even channel such a thing being a being of soil at his core. Wouldn't that be a miracle? A being of Soil commanding Mist itself? He supposes he shouldn't be too surprised, he's already done it once. It could have been a fluke though, and he needs to know more.

What he needs is Cid to restore his mask to him, so he can get on with these lessons because not one person in the entirety of the Comodeen will let him go through with the little scheme that twisting around in that head of his without it. Cid might not let him do it at all and well what Black Wind doesn't know won't hurt him because he highly doubts his Other will be pleased if he tells him that he has full intention to recreate the scenario of his death in order to try to figure out how this Amestrian Soldier managed to activate his Mist.

It should have been impossible, unless there was something else at play. Could it have been with the way that Ev - Roy can manipulate the oxygen levels in the air? Even if it he can't actually control his Mist but he can do that - well that could prove to be quite problematic in battle if he can't keep track of how much of an explosive charge is behind the Mist he's allowed to seep into the air. It could create charges he has no control over or ones that he isn't prepared for and as Revon used to tell him while he was growing up -

'A Knight who cannot control their magic should never take the initiative to cast. An out of control spell can be twice as devasting as one cast by a Master of their craft but that is only because its wielder cannot bring its destruction to a halt.'

He might have trained in the ways of a knight when he was growing up but they practiced safety before all else. Mistericans still believed in Life over All after all, so that meant theirs too. There was no space for out of control spells or unruly behavior.

"Ever - Roy - Forgive me, this is going to take some adjustment. Regardless, there is a matter I wish to discuss with you but I fear you are not going to give me a favorable response. I need to know how you commanded my Mist. It should have been impossible for one such as yourself to do so, and by that I do not mean human, but instead a being of Soil.

I think it's important that you understand the basic building blocks of the universe, and by that being Soil and Mist. Black Wind is what is known by both his people and mine as a Soil Mage. I am what is known as a Mist Mythic, meaning we both can command these elements to cast spells and summon beasts to our aid.

Black Wind's arsenal far exceeds my own, but that is merely due to the nature of Soil as a whole. Where as Mist is my breath, and it is born of me - Soil is the crystalized souls of the dead. The vast army Black Wind commands is created through the temporary resurrection of previous Windarians and other species alike.

All beings are made of one of these two elements at their core. All beings except for Chaos. I think you see why I would like you to understand these building blocks at this point. Fighting Chaos is not a 'fight fire with fire' situation. The only thing this will serve to accomplish is more fire and the destruction of everything around it, therefore only further feeding Chaos. "

He sighs and shifts taking a moment to take a long sip from the mug in his hands before he returns it to the table before him. His shoulders raise and drop as he readjusts his posture and sighs again.

"I owe you both, a proper explanation. I only mentioned such a thing in passing to Miss Riza, not thinking about what was coming out of my mouth and in doing so I caused her much distress. I apologize. To you Ever- Roy I never not explained such a thing at all, and I owe it to you to explain just what the beast you're agreeing to do battle with is.

Chaos feeds on the negative emotions of living beings, but in my time observing it, I have come to learn that even attempting to suppress said emotions does little to prevent Chaos from getting what it wants. We are living beings and suppressing our emotions is impossible. I have come to learn that it is Chaos who should be punished and not the beings who are merely expressing themselves in the only way they know how.

While it is true that Chaos feeds on negative emotions, and it uses the power it creates from them to destroy - there's nothing we can do to prevent this cycle. The only thing I have found to do to strike back at Chaos in this function is to simply process my emotions and work through them so I don't continue to stew in my misery. I promise this when I say this, but there is nothing Chaos hates more than how strongly my heart loves.

So please don't try to shut your hearts down, simply due to the nature of our enemy. We just try to mend and repair strife wherever possible.

As for what I was speaking of before. One's soul is either comprised of Soil or Mist. There is no such thing as both as they are opposing energies. Soil is toxic to me, as I'm sure Mist can be quite damaging to Black Wind in ways we have yet to find out. Soil however, devours my mist and it burns my skin. So we have to be careful when we enter combat.

This is what I meant when I said Black Wind and I were inverted twin souls. A Commander of Soil and a Master of Mist. Aren't we quite a pair? Regardless, as a being of Soil, you should not have been able to have any agency over the command of my Mist. Mist is born of the being it comes from and only they can command it. So upon the return of my mask to me, I wish to recreate the conditions of my death.

I need to see exactly what you did in order to activate, and worry not - I will remain masked the entire time and with my hearing intact I will be able to contain the blast that should come from such an action with ease. You however have every right to refuse me. Still, if you can command my Mist at all, then I wish to teach you how to command it properly to avoid further incidents in the future. "