{4th Transmutation; Voice - backdated to the 20th}

[braided_icarus]

[It's odd but not entirely strange when Ed wakes not to find Al around the house. He probably headed out to the shop or school early or something. It's a little later when he goes to ask Al something that he realizes his brother's phone is apparently disconnected.

That's when it hits him.]

Al. He's....the Porter took him. If anyone...was asking him to help with something, I'll do it.

[That's all he says, over the network. Inwardly, he's raging. Upset. A mess, once it really sinks in that he's without Al. This isn't just a temporary thing, like after Briggs or when he left Al in the dome. He has no idea how long he'll be without his brother. He never even properly got to fix things here either. Make him human. He knows it's successful back home but that doesn't mean a damn to him right now. If he was at school, guess who isn't coming back from break. He'll be found either in the library trying to bury himself in research to distract himself or in his room. The worst is he can't do anything about this. Even those in charge can't control the Porter to get him back with Al. Or specifically bring his brother back.]

Comments

[Video]

[bullysandwicher]

Do you need anything?

[Video]

[braided_icarus]

No. He's...he'll be okay. Back home. Just...not used to being separated from him.

[They've only been apart twice. And now he has no idea how long this could be for. All he wants is Al back. Damned if he cares if its with him being armor or human. But that isn't something Noi has any control over either. If she's observant, she may note if he's at home at least one dent in the wall where he's obviously lashed out and punched the wall.]

[Video]

[bullysandwicher]

Yeah. it sucks to be separated like that.

Hey, wanna let go some frustration and spar, or something? Or eat. I don't know what you like best.

[Video]

[braided_icarus]

Yeah. Sparring sounds good.

[And food. But Ed's lost his appetite a bit initially after this revelation, as much as he is usually all over the idea of food and forever hungry what with eating for two. But sparring could help. Against someone new, to tire him out.]

We could meet at the park?

[Video]

[bullysandwicher]

[ And Noi is pretty resilient and won't go down, so she'll definitively tire him out ]

Sure! Wanna meet now?

[Video]

[braided_icarus]

Sure. I'll be there in a few.

[ooc: handwave, action here or there is Ed's open log if you wanted?]

[darwinatrix]

[She's not without a bit of sympathy.]

What was he working on?

[braided_icarus]

I dunno. Reckon he had like three jobs at least with how busy he always was. Mostly at night when we were asleep. Just figure I can at least try help anyone if Al made any deals to.

[darwinatrix]

Hm. Well if it helps, he wasn't doing anything for me.

Don't shut yourself away moping and pitying yourself, Fullmetal. Won't help.

[braided_icarus]

Right. I know. Gotta keep moving forward.

[Somehow. Without Al. It'll be...quieter. Lonelier, but he'll manage.]

No choice but to without any control over the Porter.

[darwinatrix]

There might be hope for you yet.

Why take on his responsibilities? Nobody's asking that of you.

[braided_icarus]

Coming from you, I guess that's....a compliment.

I just figure it could help keep me busy in the meantime. I won't be able to do three jobs like him full on, but...smaller favors that I could manage.

voice;

[blondtactician]

I spoke with your brother on the network - he was nice. He had a lot of good things to say about you.

I'm sorry he's gone.

voice;

[braided_icarus]

Al always was the more social and friendly of the both of us. [Though, yeah. Ed's probably guilty of praising his brother too. When they aren't bickering and forgetting about it five minutes later. Boys.]

Yeah. I'll....get back to him. Or he'll show up again. Either way. Just have to wait. Nothing I can apparently do to make the Porter bring him back or take me home.

[Action @ Resident #035]

[hands4healing]

[Winry is shocked, too, and upset. Al gone back home, leaving them here? It's...not right. But their lives have never really been fair. They just have to keep walking forward.

She knows Ed probably won't want to eat, but that doesn't stop her, she doesn't even bother knocking, just barges into the room with a tray holding two plates, two drinks, and silverware. Zoey follows her into the room and lies down on the floor when Winry sits on the bed, setting the tray between Ed and her.]

You need to eat.

[As an opening statement, it's not the best, but it's not like she rehearses these things.]

[Action @ Resident #035]

[braided_icarus]

[Ed knows Al would never leave them on purpose. It's the Porter he pissed at regarding this. But there's no way he could actually get access to it unless he really made a scene and ended up in trouble. And with Winry and the Armstrongs around there's no way he'd have the chance with them checking up on him to make sure that he specifically doesn't do anything rash in the aftermath of losing his brother. The poor wall is already taking the brunt of his upset and anger with at least one new dent in it from where he evidently punched it.

When she enters, he sits up slightly from the bed to peer over to her and the tray. Knows she is right.]

I know.

[Perma-Action]

[hands4healing]

So, eat.

[It's the sloppy fare she's learned is common here - and so tasty. Grilled hamburgers on buns, with melted cheese on hers and bacon on his, with dressing - pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, and onions on the side, as well as curly fries. Little bowls of mustard, mayo, and ketchup are to the side of the plates.

It's not exactly stew and apple pie, but Winry had to go with what was available.]

[Perma-Action]

[braided_icarus]

[He's not the hungriest, but he knows he can't just ignore the meal. The small. Winry's obviously already worried enough about him as it is without her fretting over his appetite or lack thereof. He sits up, taking the tray from her and having a bite of the burger. It's filling.]

Thanks. I know you're....missing him too.

[hands4healing]

I am. [Winry adds some of the garnish to her burger before taking a bite. She chews and swallows.]

But I'm used to you guys being gone. [Her smile is a little sad. Maybe bittersweet.]

[braided_icarus]

Doesn't make this okay. You shouldn't have to be used to that when we were all together like this.

[He half almost growls in frustration between mouthfuls of burger and fries alternatively. It's not something he can control, when people might get sent home or whatever it is the Portal does. But that doesn't mean he isn't feeling it. Isn't fuming and upset.]

There's gotta be some way to figure the Porter out. To control it. I can't just--sit here and do nothing like this.

[incendere]

My apologies.

(It's a concept that Roy is used to, having been here for a while now. Still, it isn't always easy when someone you know has gone back home and your'e stuck here, unaware of what's happening to them now, or if they were even returned home as they claimed.)

Are you all right?

[braided_icarus]

Can't have been easy for you to lose the Lieutenant either.

[But then, that's still not quite the same thing. And Ed is generally more emotional, wearing his heart at his sleeve unlike Roy who is better at putting on a facade where necessary for professional appearance. He assumes Al being gone means he's back home. Going to continue the timeline until he regains his body. Or, so he hopes. From what he's been told by others. Still doesn't make it any easier.]

I've been without him before.

[Just not this long, indefinitely. Over the network, he's refraining from cursing. From yelling. Crying and pleading. But it's Al missing, and Roy knows Ed well enough to know when he's sulking.]

[incendere]

Unfortunately, this place has a tendency of being unpredictable.

(Which is all that he'll say on losing his Lieutenant. It wasn't easy, of course, and he would be lying if he said he wasn't still frustrated by it. It's not that he wanted her here--no one should be here--but having her was a small comfort. At least he knew where she was.

But this wasn't helping anything, and he can see how this is affecting Ed. He sighs a little. Still just a child.)

Dwelling on it won't change the fact that it's happened. If Alphonse was truly sent back home, then it's possible that we will be able to return as well. If we allowed ourselves to succumb to our feelings every time someone left, then we wouldn't be able to do anything. No matter what happens, we must continue to move forward. That's all we can do.

[braided_icarus]

No kidding. I think I've pretty well got that memo. Unpredictable is one word for it.

[Evidently, Ed isn't too entirely moping to forsake sarcasm. Which is something, at least. For all that he tries hard and is generally treated as more of an equal for the most part back home within the military, he is still just a kid. A teenager whose brother is everything to him. The only family he has. Or, had, here in Heropa.]

So we just need to figure the Porter out to get back.

[Or bring Al here. Maybe. This place is dangerous at times but there's nobody else Ed would trust his back to so much.]

Move forward. Didn't know you paid enough attention to quote me, Colonel.

[It's hoarse, half-hearted teasing.]

[incendere]

Don't be ridiculous, Fullmetal. I was merely rephrasing what I told you when we first met.

(Smug as ever, if that smirk is anything to go by. He's not going to address that comment about the Porter just yet. Despite what people have been saying about the government not being involved, he still doesn't trust these communicators. If not the government, then the military or maybe even the Porter itself could be listening.)

Sounds like you're keeping yourself busy.