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[fullmetalbrat]

[The video feed cuts in on a blond teenager squinting dubiously at the camera. His eyes widen a moment later when he notices the video display on the screen.] —Is it working?

Uh—hey. Can people really see this? If there is anyone watching, I'm looking for a guy in a huge suit of armor. Goes by the name Alphonse. [He leans closer to the camera, pointing emphatically.] If you see him, tell him his big brother's looking for him!

Now that I've got that out of the way, I got some more questions for all of you. Someone told me that when people leave this world they forget everything about it, but they might remember if they come back. Is that really true? Is there anyone who's left and come back that I could talk to?

I want to know more about this registration scheme they've got here too. I heard plenty about what you get for it, but what's the catch?

And, [he starts, pausing to glance at something laying just below the camera's field of view], what's a "pop star"?

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[failureisntachoice]

You have a picture of that armor you're looking for? Or a drawing of some kind? There's several people with suits of them around.

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[fullmetalbrat]

No picture, but . . .

[He glances around the room he's in for a minute and grabs a lamp nearby with a chrome finish, setting it in front of him and unscrewing the bulb. He claps his hands together, touches them to the lamp, and in a crackle of brilliant blue-white energy the lamp transforms into a miniature version of Alphonse's armor, minus the fabric loincloth.]

Like this.

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[failureisntachoice]

[ Okay, even she has to admit that was really fucking cool. ]

Haven't seen anyone like that around, but I'll keep an eye out.

Is that your power?

[fullmetalbrat]

Not one I got here. I learned this when I was a kid.

[failureisntachoice]

Is that something all kids where you're from can do? Turn shit into other shit?

[fullmetalbrat]

Only the really smart ones. If you don't know exactly what you're doing you could lose a leg.

[Real great sense of humor on this kid.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ She's swapping to voice just so he can hear how full of dry sarcasm her voice is, ] Oh is that all? It's a wonder not everyone's doing it then.

What's that called?

[fullmetalbrat]

[He lets out a short, dryly amused laugh.]

Alchemy. And yes, I've heard it's not a thing in other worlds already.

[failureisntachoice]

I'd be surprised if you hadn't. What else can you make with that?

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[burningbothends]

[Suddenly Roy's voice is coming from off screen.]

Edward, could you come here for a moment? I need your help with something.

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[fullmetalbrat]

Whaaaaat?

[God you can just hear the maturity resounding in his tone, right???

With a much put upon sigh he gets up to see what Roy wants.]

[burningbothends]

[Roy looks much more tense than his tone indicated]

I should have said something earlier—Fullmetal, find a way to drop the topic immediately. And no more demonstrations on the network. From now on, only use alchemy in front of another person if it's an emergency.

[fullmetalbrat]

[Ed frowns, losing some of his irritation. He knows Roy to well not to take this kind of attitude from him seriously.]

Why? What's got you so worried about it? It's never been a secret at home.

[burningbothends]

I'm sure I don't need to remind you about how valuable our skills made us back in Amestris. We have no idea what kind of freaks are running around this place, and we can't be certain about the agenda of the American government. The less who are aware of our capabilities, the better.

[fullmetalbrat]

[UGH. He . . . can't really argue with that. At least not while don't they know anything about anyone else's powers yet.]

What about the other crap they gave us? Same for those?

[burningbothends]

... I'll leave that to your discretion. Pretending we came in with nothing would be too suspicious.

[fullmetalbrat]

[SIGH]

I'll figure something out.

[fullmetalbrat]

[After a long delay in which Edward was called away to have some muffled conversation off screen, he returns and sits in front of the camera like nothing happened. Totally normal.]

Nothing useful. Just models like that.

Do other people get powers when they arrive?

[failureisntachoice]

[ Her comm is left running but set down nearby as she waits for the kid's return. When his voice finally comes through clearly, rather than muffled in another room, she picks it back up again. ]

Everyone gets powers. Part of why they let their machine keep running.

So that's all you can do? Make toys?

[fullmetalbrat]

[He frowns.] Sounds pretty reckless of them.

Lady, I'm still a kid even if I'm smart enough to manage this. It takes a years of training to manage more than some shiny trinkets.

[A true enough statement even if it doesn't really apply to protagonists like him.]

[failureisntachoice]

I've seen a lot of kids here do extraordinary things, though there's a few normal ones thrown in the mix.

[ As normal as children like Mabel Pines could be considered. ]

But yeah, I'd agree it's damn reckless and stupid.

[fullmetalbrat]

I get that a lot.

[He even manages a convincing long-suffering sigh. It helps that his day has been as long and tiring as it is.]

So what kind of amazing power do you have?

[failureisntachoice]

The useful kind. They just let you keep what you had from home, that's it?

[fullmetalbrat]

My file has some other crap listed, but nothing I'm going to actually use.

[failureisntachoice]

You'll be happy to know you're not the only one with bullshit powers.

Who was your friend calling for you a while ago?