towerofanimus | (no subject)

Characters: Edward Elric and YOU!
Setting: Room 3-10 and other floors of the tower.
Format: Action is preferred, but I'll match.
Summary: Ed wakes up in the tower and is not please. Not pleased at all.
Warnings: Ed's mouth. That's about it for now.

» Room 3-10

[Ed braced himself, gritting his teeth and slowly attempting to pull himself up off the ground. For a second he was doing just fine, but then a biting, sharp pain -- more pain that he had felt in a long, long time -- in his stomach made him freeze. His breath caught in his chest. His heart skipped more than a few beats and his eyes went wide as the world starting spinning. He choked and looked down, immediately wishing that he hadn't. A piece of metal, a long beam from some abandoned construction work, ran right through him. He was skewered.

He let his guard down. He had shown mercy and this was the price he had to pay for it. If he didn't do something soon he was going to die here at the bottom of this mine shaft.

His vision blurred, the world around him grew dark and then...

And then he woke up and the pain was gone.

He struggled, fighting against the sleep paralysis as his mind raced -- where was he? Did someone find him in that mind shaft and bring him here? But how? There was no way. That wasn't a dream right? It couldn't have been a dream. He remembered it too well, that pain was real.

Thirty seconds later Ed shot up with a strangled sort of scream. His chest heaved with each breath as he looked around the room. This was definitely not a mineshaft. This wasn't a place he knew.]

» Various floors

((Ed's pretty much exploring the entirety of the tower so pick a floor, any floor and that's where the thread will be! Just specify the floor in your tag!))

[Now that all of that was over with it was time to get moving. He had more important things to do. Things like finding out if this letter was for real. There had to be answers somewhere in this tower. There had to be someone here who knew something. I mean, Amestris couldn't be gone... right?]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I suppose that such a term is also applicable.. as is "unusual" and perhaps "fascinating". I find myself wondering what sorts of power or science makes such a thing possible.

I've found myself wondering that about a few of these floors, actually.

[He pulls his hand away, flicking the water off of his fingertips.]

Whatever it is, it's definitely not alchemy.

Alchemy?

[ There's no way the alchemy of her world could remotely do this, so it would be stupid comparing. Magic would be the first choice. He must, therefore, be a world where alchemy can accomplish great feats if he'd even consider it here. ]

Something from your world?

[He raises an eyebrow.]

You don't have alchemy where you're from?

Unless it was the result of a wish then no, I do not have any such thing in the world of my residence. I take it then that alchemy is quite common place for you, Edward Elric?

Very. I'm an alchemist, after all.

I am a magical girl. That does not mean magic is considered common.

[ Shooting down your logic!

Then catching her bad manners. ]

But that's quite interesting. I've never met an alchemist before.

You're a what?

Magical girl. Puella Magi.

[ She stops there, not sure how much detail to share with him. Since not only is she a magical girl, but she's a complicated one. She doesn't want to confuse him. ]

A girl with magical powers.

Understand?

... You know that sounds like a bunch of bullshit, right?

[Because magic? Really? PFFFT.]

[ SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEehalt.

Did you just SWEAR?!

HOMURA'S NOT USED TO THAT... sure, she'll do it to seem tough, but that doesn't mean she doesn't flinch a bit when hearing it from others.
But she tucks her urge to flinch and stutter away, knowing that it does no one any good for her to make a big deal out of that. ]

... Accomplishing anything worthwhile with alchemy is also a load of "bullshit" in the world I come from. Alchemy was a dying practice that evolved into science when it shed its skin as a form of witchcraft.

[ She shrugs. ] I would give a demonstration, but I'm afraid that my magic is something I must conserve. If you do not wish to believe me then that is your choice.

[He sure did swear! He swears a lot, actually. Something you'll have to get used to.]

Huh... you're not the first person who's told me alchemy isn't a practiced science where they're from. I can't say I necessarily believe you, but considering the circumstances I'll just reserve my judgement for now.

A wise enough decision, I suppose.

[ She reaches into the water, smiling a bit at the amazing feeling of reaching passed nonexistent glass. No matter how many times she does this it's just as impressive each time. ]

Your alchemy, then. How does it work, if I may ask?

It's a science based on the law of equivalent exchange. Basically it states that you can't make anything without giving up something of equal value in return.

Creating something in alchemy is called a transmutation and it's a scientific process, not magic or anything. In order to transmute something, you have to understand the inherent structure and properties of the atomic and molecular makeup of whatever you plan on transmuting.

Means you have to understand the flow of potential and kinetic energy too, and how to balance it.

Then using a transmutation circle you use that energy to break down the physical structure of the material into another, more malleable state. That's deconstruction.

Then reconstruction -- keeping that energy flowing and turning the new material into a completely new form.

... Follow?