Video

[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"?

Comments

[fullmetalbrat]

[. . . The screen shakes suddenly, settling on Edward staring dubiously at it once more.]

Is this thing broken?

[rathercommon]

[ Wryly: ]

I don't know. Is something wrong with it?

[fullmetalbrat]

It looks like a cat is talking to me . . .

[rathercommon]

[ Cheerful: ]

Oh. No, your communicator is fine.

[fullmetalbrat]

. . . Are you a chimera?

[rathercommon]

Oh - I don't think so. I don't actually know what that is, but I don't think I am.

[fullmetalbrat]

A chimera is a fusion of two different animals. If you don't think you are one then you probably aren't.

[But that raised even more questions.]

. . . So, what are you?

[rathercommon]

Definitely not that. I'm not even close to being limited to two.

[ And, with a flicker of magic, the cat becomes a bird instead. ]

Anyway. What I am is Kitty. What's your name?

[fullmetalbrat]

[He practically recoils from the screen at that.]

Ah—hah . . . Edward Elric. Can you turn into anything?

[rathercommon]

For the most part. I've got a few limitations. Though really, it's up largely to my imagination.

[fullmetalbrat]

Awesome.

[The sarcasm practically drips from his tone.]

[rathercommon]

[ Have you ever seen a bird put its hands on its hips? No; that's an absurd question, because that is physically impossible. But the gesture that the sparrow makes right now is very similar to that - a little flutter downwards of its wings, and an irritable motion of its head to the side. ]

I'm sorry. Most people think it is, as a matter of fact, quite awesome. They are, as a matter of fact, awe-struck. Have you got some problem?

[fullmetalbrat]

Right before I was pulled here I found out a shapeshifter murdered one of the best people I ever met. You've just got bad timing.

[rathercommon]

[ There's a clear frown in her voice. ]

Well, I'm sorry. That's quite rotten. But that also hasn't got anything at all to do with me, has it.

[fullmetalbrat]

No, it doesn't, but I'm not going to think shapeshifting is awesome suddenly. It doesn't exactly stir up the best memories for me.

[rathercommon]

That's ridiculous. You are at least aware that it's completely ridiculous, right?

[fullmetalbrat]

How is not liking a power ridiculous? I didn't say I hate you.

[rathercommon]

Well, because it would be one thing if the power were inherently wicked, or came from a wicked source. Like, where I'm from, magic comes from the enslavement of sentient creatures, so it's inherently bad. But no one's hurt at all when I change.

[ To demonstrate her point, the sparrow suddenly becomes bright blue. ]

The power comes from my own spiritual energy, and it's not as though I use it for evil purposes. I use it because I like to be able to fly and smell things as a cat and all that.

[fullmetalbrat]

I can't just make it stop bringing up bad memories, and I'm not gonna apologize for it just because you decided to take it personally.

[rathercommon]

I'm not taking it personally, I'm saying it's stupid. I mean, honestly, I really am sorry for your experiences, but thinking that way is really just going to screw you over in the end.

[fullmetalbrat]

I don't care what you think of it. It's not gonna change anything.

[rathercommon]

Fine. But at least admit it's stupid.

[fullmetalbrat]

[Rather than answering, he makes a very deliberate show of shutting the video feed down.]