Video

[heart_wrenching]

[ Even after the video starts, the image is mostly obscured, the figure still way too close and fiddling with her device. ]


Is this really broadcasting now? Amaaaaazing. I can't even see the microphone or camera! It's almost unbelievable.


[ When she finally sits back the area around her is a mess. The tables are strewn with tools and machine parts, knobs, springs, coils, piping. If one looks carefully, one may be able to spot a number of control panels suggesting she has possibly dismantled every major appliance in the home. Like ya do. ]


Well, hello! I'm a new imPort, my name's Winry. Winry Rockbell. And . . . does anyone out there know how to build a "microwave"? Well, rebuild, technically. The locks and turntables are pretty straightforward, but then there's all these wires . . . who knew electricity was going to be such a big deal, anyway?

Comments

[fullmetalbrat]

[Ed knew a guy that looked like a sad, harmless nerd once. Then his kid and dog went """missing""".

He also doesn't look exactly thrilled over the idea of Winry taking food from someone who's still effectively a stranger, but he's not stopping her either. (Possibly because he can't stop her from doing anything.)]

I'm not hungry anyway. I'm just here to see this library too.

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor is not actually a sad, harmless nerd, it's true. But when you catch him physically by himself he might as well be. He's about as prone to violence as a fluffy kitten.

He makes a short thoughtful noise as he starts walking, unoffended by this brush off. ]

I was planning on showing her the engineering section. Is there anywhere in particular I should be directing you?

[fullmetalbrat]

[Ed falls into step alongside Winry, keeping Gregor where he can see him.]

. . . Is there anything on memory?

[vorbarra]

[ He wasn't expecting that, and gives him a sidelong glance. ]

Neurologically or psychologically? There's both.

[fullmetalbrat]

[Finally it looks like some of his guard drops now that his attention is shifting to this new potential source of information.]

Both. I don't know what I'm looking for yet.

[vorbarra]

[ Get him talking about research and he relaxes? Well, Gregor's known any number of those types. ]

They're often combined, you know. Neuropsychology. I think what you're looking for is called cognitive science.

[fullmetalbrat]

[He'll even smile if it's about research.]

Then show me that! It sounds like a good place to start.

[vorbarra]

[ At this rate Gregor's going to be convinced Amestrians are all a bunch of nerds. ]

Sure. May I ask what spurred this interest?

[fullmetalbrat]

That should be obvious to anyone. I don't want to forget any of this.

[vorbarra]

The alternative is that you're trying to remember something you forgot, or you're interested on someone else's behalf. I wasn't sure.

[fullmetalbrat]

[Ugh . . . His face falls into a look of confused exasperation. He'd been trying not to think about his own lost memories. Probably his own? Honestly, he didn't really want to think about it.]

Eh . . . It's kind of both of those too. I've been told I was here before, but . . . [But had no memory of it.]

[vorbarra]

[ Whoops, sorry.

Gregor shoots him a sympathetic look. ] If it's any consolation, I didn't know you. Or anyone else from your home universe, I don't think.

[fullmetalbrat]

I didn't think so. Everyone who did know me seems pretty eager to say so.

[vorbarra]

[ Frankly, ] That sounds extremely annoying.

[fullmetalbrat]

It's creepy. How the hell am I supposed to know how much they know about me now?

[vorbarra]

Well, yes. That's the annoying part. Have they at least told you what they know about you, so you're not just constantly guessing?

[fullmetalbrat]

A little, but it's not enough to be sure. I'm going to have to just ask what they know . . .

[vorbarra]

[ A short pause. ]

Many people here are from places where being forcibly kidnapped like this is one of the worst things they can imagine happening to them. It probably doesn't occur to them how important it is to know what someone else knows about you.

[fullmetalbrat]

[Ughhh. He sighs and drags a hand over his hair, tugging at the end of his braid.]

I know, I know. And I know I can't be mad at them for it.

[vorbarra]

Mad, no. [ In a drawl, ] Justifiably irritated and impatient, on the other hand...

[fullmetalbrat]

[He snorts lightly.]

Trust me, I've got that part down.

[vorbarra]

[ He flicks him an amused look. ]

When I thought I'd have culture shock I wasn't expecting it to be that kind.

[fullmetalbrat]

Did people know you from before too?

[vorbarra]

No, this is my first time here, as far as I'm aware. I more meant... [ A low thoughtful noise. ] That brand of naïveté, we really don't have that where I'm from.

[fullmetalbrat]

Huh . . . [He gives Gregor a searching look, reassessing.] Just how rough is your world?