ohmyarceus | MAY-JUNE TEST DRIVE MEME

[You might bump into Ed just about anywhere, sitting on a bench or stretched out in the grass - scowling at a map in his hand as if trying to figure it out, or rummaging through the backpack that was provided on his arrival. Being trapped in a new world wasn't exactly a foreign experience for him, but that didn't mean he wanted to repeat it any time soon. And yet, here he is.

Nearby, occasionally seen nudging the blond with a muzzle to get his attention, is a ponyta - that looks just as confused about whatever the human is doing as Ed does. For the most part Edward seems to be ignoring the creature, but every now and then he might say something to it or toss it something that seemed to be food.]

None of this makes any sense...

(ooc: open to network posts too, just not sure on an opening atm. also I will DEFINITELY be switching journals frequently for the sake of icons so ignore my rapidly changing username please.)

_{[A shadow falls across the grass.]

[HEY.]

[HEY ED.]

[GUESS WHO IT IS.]}

Well, if it isn't Edward Elric!

_{[... No, not Envy. The voice is a little too young-sounding for that, although it's certainly got the right melodramatic tone.]

[NOPE, it's Ed's favorite limb-thief, standing SMUGLY over him with his mismatched hands on his hips. Beside him is... what appears to a plump, mobile bag of trash. It lifts a gloopy tentacle and cheerfully waves, only to stop with an alarmed jiggle when Wrath turns to scold him.]}

No, Hungry, don't wave. We don't like him.

[Ed is currently squinting at one of the items in his pack when a shadow looms over him. Not even remotely in the mood for threatening figures right now, he starts to glance up to tell whoever exactly where they can take their damn shadow. He doesn't know where he is, he doesn't where Al is - and he is not in the mood.

Before his gaze even lifts a familiar voice penetrates his annoyed thoughts, and his head snaps up the rest of the way to find Wrath of all people- homunculi- people?]

What are you doing here-?

[His tone is more disbelief than anything, shock - but certainly not fear, as imposing as Wrath is attempting to be. At least his blunt utterance was a little more polite than "You're supposed to be dead!" which was the only other thing on his mind, at that moment. How was this happening- and what was that thing Wrath directed his last statement to?

After a moment of stunned immobility, Ed jumps to his feet glancing between Wrath and the pokemon in question - his own completely forgotten as the animal remained about a yard away, watching the interaction. After all, if the homunculus was going to try something, he wanted his guard to be up for it.]

I live here.

_{[Said in the exact grandiose way that someone would refer to their cadillac, or their expensive handbag. Except that they're standing in the middle of a park.]

[Is he referring to the park? To the town? Who the hell knows.]

[Ed may also notice that Wrath is... dressed... differently. Oh, he still has that edgelord Homunculus aesthetic going on, but instead of the usual shiny black is-it-their-skin?-or-what? material, he's got hiking shorts and a shirt with a cartoon logo of a big black-and-gray dog with yellow teeth, and some bubble-lettered words positing the question: "WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?" It's torn at the middle, and judging by the frayed threads and jagged edges, he definitely shredded the bottom half off himself.]

[The final look somehow manages to be even more "someone threw a grade-schooler into a Hot Topic back room and left him there for a week before opening the door to see what happened" than his original look.]

[It's also worth noting that the glossy-eyed sack of trash is wearing sneakers. You know, just to complete the descent into surrealism here.]}

So that means you're TRESPASSING.

[Not exactly the answer he expected, but he also hadn't really asked the question that was on his mind, in the first place.

If Wrath is here. And Wrath is supposed to be here. Then what is here? For a split second Ed has a moment of wondering if he's dead, it would certainly explain the fever dream that this place was. Weird animals and background music alike.

Oh, Ed noticed that Wrath was dressed differently, it just was far from the forefront of his priorities, right now. He hadn't had a chance to check if alchemy worked in this world yet (he hadn't really thought to after two years) and he certainly didn't want to test that in a fight with a homunculus.

Although now he really wished he had checked on that much sooner, because he was ill equipped for this scenario to go south and Wrath seemed gearing up for aggression.

Edward lifted his hands in placating gesture, as if that would ever get him out of a fight.]

Look, I just want to get out of here. If you tell me how to leave, I will - you can... have this place.

[Whatever it is.

Ed is fairly certain this angle isn't going to work, but he's going to try it anyway. Hell, if it actually does get him back to Al, even better. If not it might buy him enough time to come up with a strategy before getting attacked?]

_{[Those are questions that even people who are 'here' for a long time can't figure out. JUST ENJOY YOUR FREE THERAPY ANIMALS.]

[But apparently, another curious side effect of this place has been performed on Wrath's EGO, because it sure is trippin'.]

[He barks out a laugh, tossing his hair-- which looks... KIND of brushed? For once? Someone clearly had a go at it with a comb, anyway.]}

I don't bargain with losers!

Anyway, that's not how things are decided in this place.

If you want me to tell you anything, you have to battle me.

It's the rules.

_{[The Trubbish nods, making its entire body jiggle. MMHM, yup, those are the rules, all right!]}

[Who wrote these rules? And how does Wrath manage to look more and less like a feral animal, at the same time?

Ed's eyes narrow at Wrath's words, wishing he'd had more time to read up on all this before being interrupted. For all he knew, Wrath was making that "rule" up, but even if he was Ed was well aware that he wasn't going to back down just because his idea of the rules didn't match with reality.

It's hard to play by the rules when you don't know what they are, and he felt even more lost in this place than the world beyond the Gate.]

What rules?

[He might just be a little too annoyed to keep his composure, after all. Which, of course, means he doesn't notice the ponyta come up to his side until it practically bumps into him, watching Wrath carefully as if ready to step in on its own accord.]

_{[Wrath's just special like that. No amount of store-bought clothing will ever manage to fully make him NOT look like he was pulled out a burrow somewhere.]}

The rules.

God, you'd think an alchemist like you would be real careful about following rules after what happened.

_{[Leave it to a Homunculus to rub that in. Got enough dramatic italics in that sentence, Wrath?]}

[Okay, all this nonsense about rules was annoying enough, but now he's just being rude about it. Still, Ed manages to keep his cool. Go ahead, Wrath try and rile him up, it's almost a relief to find something familiar in his life for a change - especially after being completely uprooted again, and this time for no apparent reason.

Playing cool and distant only worked so long for Ed, but he was still trying very hard not to let this whole situation get to him.]

Yeah, well I'd know more about these rules if I wasn't interrupted every time I tried to figure them out!

_{[Expecting Wrath not to be rude is like asking a dog not to eat a chunk of raw steak dropped on the ground in front of it. ENTIRELY POSSIBLE with proper instruction and reinforcement, but OTHERWISE A HOPELESS EFFORT]}

Weren't you Elrics always best and hands-on learning?

I challenge you to a Pokemon battle.

_{[A sentence delivered with the exact same dramatic gravitas that Wrath would normally say "I'm gonna kill you and take your limbs."]

[The Trubbish nods enthusiastically and squares its nasty tentacles into the rough approximation of fists... only to deflate when Wrath looks back down at it and goes--]}

--no, Hungry, not with you. You squish too easily and you'll just get stepped on. You should stand back.

_{[Another, more resigned nod from the Trubbish. :T IT'S TRUE. It waddles a short distance away.]}

[FOOD you say?]

[Is what Lucky the Houndoom, who has decided that the area needs exploring to find anything interesting, is thinking. And hey! He did find something interesting! He found an opportunity.]

[He trots right the fuck up to Ed, sitting down a few feet in front of him like a Good Boy, whiplike tail wagging intensely.]

[This dog is almost the size of a small horse. He looks like a satan. And he's wearing a pair of sunglasses.]

[He barks, helpfully. Give him a treat, random stranger with food!]

[What the hell.

Ed heard Lucky before he had a chance of seeing him, and he was certainly not prepared for the sight. He did, however, have the advantage of being used to weird shit and his weird animal is on fire so that kind of trumps dog with horns and sunglasses.

As long as it doesn't talk. It doesn't talk, right?

For a split second Ed visibly flinches at the horse-sized dog barking at him, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out a dog sitting in front of you barking probably wants food, or to go out- and they were already outside.]

I get it, you saw me throwing something to-

[You know what? Details. He'll worry about those later.

For now he starts rummaging through the pack again - producing the first thing that looks like pokemon food according to what information he had already absorbed, tossing it the short distance between them as he had for the ponyta a moment ago.]

I bet you're just hungry, right?

[OH BOY!!!]

[Lucky hops right up to his feet when he sees Ed go for the backpack, tail wagging even more furiously and with a big doggy grin on his face, tongue lolling. For such a demonic looking thing, he sure does seem friendly.]

[The food gets horfed down immediately; he's not starving or even really too hungry, but oh man does he love treats.]

[He takes a few more steps forward, leaning his neck out towards Ed to sniff. Ed's made one new friend!]

[Of course, it doesn't last forever. Ed's only warning is the call of a very familiar voice, sounding a little frustrated but distinctly less menacing than usual.]

Lucky? Luckyyyy! Come on, you can't spend all day chasing Rattata or we're gonna miss the--

[And then who should come around the corner but...Envy. Alive and decidedly not a giant dragon. And wearing sensible hiking pants and boots, even if his shirt is tied in such a way that his midriff is bared anyway because goddamn Envy has an aesthetic and he can only be so sensibly dressed at once okay.]

[Lucky lets out a delighted bark, distracted from Ed as he bounds on back over to his trainer. He got a treat!! He's such a good boy! Nevermind that he ran off! Envy is standing stock still for the moment and looking honest to god caught off guard, because he's seen Ed too and he sure wasn't expecting that to happen today.]

Oh, and what are you doing here?

[He may have had to scramble a little to get the proper levels of sneer on his face he wasn't prepared at all.]

[Unfortunately for Ed, he was a little too distracted to take note of the voice yelling in the distance - even as it approached. For a moment Ed's actually enjoying a moment of peace, and when does that ever happen?

Certainly not when Envy's around. Edward glances up when he notices someone approaching, but this time his brain nearly short circuits at the sight. In a similar fashion Ed's expression changes from shock to something a little more hostile.

Envy was here, and since Envy was here - and clearly, alive, himself and apparently well.... change of attire, aside - that told Ed one thing. He was going to have zero scope of reference for Ed's expectations of him. You know, as a dead dragon in Germany.

Ed decidedly keeps his scowl in place, remaining sitting on the grass as if to convey that the homunculus wasn't enough of a threat for him to even move.]

I could ask you the same thing!

[Because Envy was supposed to be dead. Very dead and transmuted, the same as Wrath. His entire reality was being flipped on itself in this place. Ed did not like being thrown for a loop, but he really didn't care what Envy was doing here. He was far more concerned with what the hell he was doing here, and why. He still had yet to get a satisfactory answer to that question.]

I live here.

[It's then that an idea occurs to him. An incredibly mean and spiteful idea, one that will probably get him into trouble later but honestly is worth it. He flips his hair, just a little, and puts one hand loosely on his hip. It's posturing, the same as Ed sitting on the grass.]

Although why I'm here in this town? Well, I've to catch a boat. See, your brother's on it, did you know he's here too?

[...technically this is true. Al IS probably waiting on the ferry to Kanto already because he gets places on time, and Envy DOES have to catch it because they're traveling together with Heather and wouldn't be in any danger of anything except maybe Envy taking the best flavor of trailmix. But Ed doesn't know that.]

So I'd better get going if I want to catch up.

[Envy that was a terrible idea. Did all these years here make you forget who you're dealing with?

Whatever else Envy is saying is totally disregarded, because Ed is much more focused on one tiny itsy bitsy little detail. Al. He was certain Al would have been left behind in Germany, the same as he was left behind in Amestris when Ed disappeared the first time. This little tidbit of information - if it was true, don't get ahead of yourself, Edward - could literally change everything.]

Al's here?! If that's true than I'm coming with you.

[And sure, you can try to stop him, but he takes literally zero issue in just following and trying not to get caught if you're going to be difficult about it, Envy.

Unless you want to attack him over it, but wouldn't that take up time you don't have if you're already running late to catch this thing? Ed doesn't exactly have much else going on, and you can trust he's ready for that to be the option the homunculus picks.]

[THAT WASN'T THE REACTION HE WAS EXPECTING. Envy immediately scowls, annoyed.]

What, you aren't even a little worried that I just said I was chasing after your brother?

[IS IT THE PANTS? IT'S THE PANTS, ISN'T IT. THEY'RE NOT EDGY ENOUGH.]

[AHAHA SORRY, ENVY. only not. Ed's expression of sheer determination doesn't change as he gets to his feet, standing slightly defensive as if expecting the other to attack him after all.]

Yeah, I heard what you said. Al's here and you're going that way. Which means my best chance of finding him is to go with you.

[Ed logic, Envy. If he comes along it'll be two against one. Completely sticking to his nonchalant, you homunculi being here don't bother me in the slightest facade, not that it's very hard to maintain when blasted with a severe case of tunnel vision.]

So. How much time do you have to catch this boat before you miss it?

[Either way, as Ed sees it - he wins. They get to the boat before it departs and he can find Al. Or they don't, which means Envy doesn't, and Al's safe from whatever he's planning.]

[For all that Envy's perfectly willing to be an enormous asshole to Ed, actually attacking him...]

[He's already broken his deal to Heather once, and he's not about to again. Even if the deal had been about Alphonse and not Ed, he's pretty sure it would wind up being the same thing in the end. Attacking one of the two means fighting both.]

[And he really gets the feeling that she'd be disappointed in him as well as angry, which is even WORSE.]

[So while his lip curls and his teeth grit, he doesn't make any move to attack. At his side, Lucky senses that tension and whines, nudging and whuffling directly into Envy's ear--although notably, instead of responding to that with a kick or a shove, he puts a hand up and simply pushes the offending dog nose away from his ear with a normal amount of force, following it up with an absent scratch to the big dog's head. All his attention is still very much focused on Ed.]

So you're assuming I'm just going to let you skip along merrily next to me with no problem. What the hell's the last thing you remember?

[Ed notes the slightest movement and he's ready for it - even when Envy doesn't attack, his guard remains up. He's not about to fall for any sort of fake out.

The surprise comes when Envy - somewhat gently - pushes Lucky away. Sure it was a move of irritation, but it was .... decidedly not Envy like. The ponyta watching from the grass behind Ed doesn't seem too concerned with the whole ordeal. Edward's been acting like this with almost everyone since they met.]

Of course not-

[Tone dripping with duh, idiot. I expect you to be a royal pain in the ass about it, just like everything else is with you, but he cuts himself off when he realizes Envy is still talking.

Do you really want to go down that rabbit hole, Envy? Do you? Because he's pretty certain if you're standing in front of him acting oblivious to any of that shared history he's going to have to assume you don't know.

And let me tell you, the last thing he remembers about you is one fever dream you're lucky to be missing.]

The last thing I remember..... [Wheels turning, why the hell does Envy care about the last thing he remembers, anyway? Although Envy wouldn't know about the war between worlds, or any of the last things he remembers before coming here. That's fine, though- he's pretty sure all of this is going to be absolute gibberish to the homunculus anyway. Better to stick with what he wants to know, which is probably about him.]

They used you to open a portal back to our world. Transmuted our father right along with you, and you both died.

That's why I want to know where we are and what the hell I'm doing here with you.

[Shh, nobody tell him if this is some form of death Envy just implied that Al's dead too with his little speech there.]

Edited 2017-05-16 19:39 (UTC)

[Well, Ed, if you're just going to sit on that bench and ignore your Ponyta, Vanitas will happily take it off your hands.

He won't even bother you about it!

The Team Rocket member had spotted the blonde and initially had wanted to just bother the traveling because that's what he did. But then he'd seen the Ponyta trying to get attention and failing and oh, see, now that just won't do. Clearly he needs to claim that creature in the name of Team Rocket--mostly so they'll leave him alone for awhile.

Quotas and all.]

Phantump, use Confuse Ray.

[The little creature doesn't hesitate to obey, drifting forward quickly as several small balls of light appear around it then disappear and reappear in a burst around the Ponyta.

Don't mind them, Ed. Seriously. Just keep doing what you're doing.]

[Oh, Ed was paying attention - albeit grudgingly. Just because he wasn't interacting with it doesn't mean he's not keeping an eye out. Even if initially that was just to see when it would wander off, or so he told himself.

Either way, he wasn't going to let some random person hurt - or run off with - the thing.

The sound of Vanitas' voice is enough to get Ed's attention, and he's on his feet before the little pokemon can do whatever the hell it was doing. He was working on finding out as much as he could about this place if he was going to be stuck here but it was certainly too much to learn in a day.]

Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?!

[Ed is not going to sit idly by and watch whatever was going on just happen. Not at all. In fact, the first thing he's going to do run over to get between the two pokemon as if to ward off any further attack.

Yup, he's trying to defend it. All while thinking over what he'd read so far in hopes to come up with something that might help here. Wrath mentioned rules and if he was going to be stuck here he was going to have to figure those out in order to live by them, the same as with alchemy back home.]

Oh, so you are paying attention. Good, that'll make this more fun.

[Vanitas didn't seem all that worried about Ed's seemingly sudden awareness, a hand resting on his hip as he smirked lazily at the blonde. His Phantump seemed hesitant, glancing at it's master then back at Ed and the Ponyta, starting to drift behind Vanitas--]

I didn't tell you to retreat. [The little ghost was immediately in front of Vanitas again, whispy hands pressed together.] Use Forest's Curse!

[As he says it, Vanitas releases another Pokemon, his Woobat appearing in a flash and darting about through the air.]

Use Heart Stamp!

[Sorry, Ed. He's not about to play fair.]

MAY-JUNE TEST DRIVE MEME

TEST DRIVE MEME

Edward Elric | Fullmetal Alchemist

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or I could cheat with icons

cheating is the way to go

totally is when you have 45 accounts with 15 icons

oh crap THAT'S A LOT OF ACCOUNTS

I might, maybe, have a lot of AUs

FMA breeds AUs like bunnies honestly.

Terrible AUs. AUs that breed other AUs.

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/slams down last minute tags before commute

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