these truths are not gated

[snacklist.livejournal.com]

Characters: [OU] Alphonse Elric and YOU?
Setting: Room 1-08, and then exploring the tower. Just mention where you are in your subject or tag!
Format: I'll mimic you.
Summary: Al wakes up in the Tower, and wonders what the fudgsicle is going on.
Warnings: Copious amounts of puppy dog faces? welkrj idk, none on Al's end! Will edit if anything happens.

As soon as the sleep paralysis had worn off, Alphonse was sitting bolt upright in his bed with a start, breathing hard and fast--

...

Where...?

Disoriented, his eyes quickly seek out his surroundings, but... he doesn't recognize anything. Not a single thing, and when he turns his head, he finds something odd and vaguely tight around his neck. Fingers lift to investigate, and...

A choker? Some kind of collar or tubing? He's even more perplexed and bewildered, simply confused and at odds as he almost numbly finds his feet with caution. Had someone kidnapped him...? But he doesn't remember anything unusual before he had fallen asleep, and... aside from the addition to his anatomy, he doesn't appear to be injured.

When he tests it, he finds the door isn't locked, either. (He's completely missed that handy little note, hasn't he?)

Al is wary and on his guard, uneasy -- concerned as he carefully pokes his head out of the door and into the corridor. This is all so strange... what exactly is going on here? It looks like it might take a little exploration before he can find out...

Comments

Floor 14 because.... idk just because.

[unexculpable]

[Some things never change -- things like Ed taking naps wherever he wants, whenever he wants. He brought some books up to the fourteenth floor, claimed a couch for himself, and then... fell asleep in the middle of reading. The way he's laying there seems uncomfortable -- one leg hanging off the side, the other stretched out across the cushions, shirt pulled up exposing his stomach, his head on the armrest with his ponytail hanging over it, his entire body awkwardly slumped down making it look like the couch had started to eat him -- but he didn't seem to mind.

Maybe when he woke up he'd care, but even that was doubtful. He was used to sleeping in uncomfortable positions and on uncomfortable surfaces. Like the floor. Or in a tree. Or on a train with wooden benches that he'd be stuck in for twelve hours.

... APPROACH?]

s-so wise... *^*

[snacklist.livejournal.com]

[Ed would wake up to a rather bewildered and concerned brother shaking his shoulder gently but firmly to implore him to the waking world.]

--Wake up, brother! Brother? ...Ed, will you wake up already?!

[normally, this probably wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary, would it? Ed was often roused from his highly attractive sprawls in public places like a moron by his younger sibling when it was time for... well. something, that something usually being--

that wasn't important, was it?

probably not as important as the fact that the voice pleading at him to wakefulness isn't tinny from inside armor, and the eyes looking worriedly down on his are that of his very human brother.]

[unexculpable]

[He waved a hand dismissively at Al, turning his head to the side and sinking into the couch a bit more.]

Mmph not now Al... Tryin... trying to sleep gimme a break s'not like we... we're going anywhere.

[He was dreaming, had to be dreaming. Al wasn't stuck in this tower with him and his voice... it was only clear like that when he was asleep. Ed was fully prepared to completely ignore it and slip back into a blissful state of unconsciousness, one complete with dreams that, for once, weren't nightmares, but he could still feel a hand shaking his shoulder. He could still hear Al's voice.

Morbid curiosity got the better of him and he sat up with a yawn.]

Alright, alright I'm up, jeeze.... [Ed rubbed at his eyes, blinking a few times to clear his vision.

He looked up and he could have sworn his heart stopped. No, no. He was seeing things. This couldn't... this couldn't be real. He blinked again and shook his head, picking himself up and sitting up straight. Once again, he looked at his brother. His impossible brother. His impossible, very human brother.

Al staring at him in concern with his own eyes -- that same bright gold he remembered them being. There was emotion on his face. Actual, real emotion. His brows were furrowed, there was a bit of color in his cheeks, his mouth pulled down in a worried frown.

And his voice. The metallic sound was gone. It was just Al's voice. That was it.

Ed couldn't be sleeping, there was no way -- his heart was pounding too fast, his stomach was flipping and twisting in worry and concern and fear and something that was a little like hope, but he couldn't let himself grab onto that particular feeling just yet.

This couldn't be. This couldn't be real. This couldn't be Al. Everything said that it was, but it couldn't. There was no way. This was impossible.

His mouth went dry, his voice wavering, void of the confidence and determination it usually had. It was questioning, unsure.]

A- Al?

[snacklist.livejournal.com]

[he gave an exhale of relief when his brother finally started coming around. for a moment, he thought he might've really been hurt, or drugged -- maybe by whoever had taken them here. why else would he be leisurely resting on the couch like he owned the place? not that he wasn't well acquainted with Ed's propensity to falling asleep just about... anywhere.

but the concern doesn't fully leak from his eyes -- doesn't have time before it's back in full force at Ed's reaction. no, more than that... his brother was...

smaller?

...he'd probably have a fit if he heard that thought wiggle through his head, but it was true. he was smaller, and his... arm, his arm was--]

Brother, what's going on? Why is your...

[arm... your, leg, your...

distraught, worried... seriously worried, now-- is he dreaming? this doesn't feel like a dream, and he would know. he's savored every one, even the ones that weren't happy and pleasant, since he got his body back. they had never felt like this.]

Floor 1 -- foooood

[quarkylass]

[ She's staring at all of the fruit in front of her.

Somehow, she got way more than she could eat. But that's alright with her; Jade will just wait until someone else comes along and will share it with them. At least, if she trusts them -- she's had the nagging suspicion for days that people are watching her, and her head keeps looking over her shoulder as if someone was spying. ]

nom nom!

[snacklist.livejournal.com]

[Al has poked his head in from the elevator... and it probably isn't hard to tell that he's completely lost and more than slightly overwhelmed.

well, to his credit... it's not every day that you wake up in some strange, technologically advanced Tower, collared without explanation.

bewildered and cautious, he's slowly making his way through in exploration. he politely tries to stop one of the drone-like people, asking where he is and who's in charge, but he gets little in the way of a reply... sob ;(]

They're not even listening to me...

[quarkylass]

[ She looks at the boy as he walks into the cafeteria, a little wary. But when the drones refuse to give him the light of day, she figures that he's safe -- just like everyone else that she's examined so far. But he looks a little bit lost, so Jade shyly waves at him. ]

Um. You know, they never listen ever.

Floor 4: da lounge~

[latomatetas.livejournal.com]

[ She's spending more time staring at nothing on the lounge floor, her mind heavy with things. No escape from the tower, no permanent deaths, the experimentations...

Sighing, she rubs her arms and touches the window. ]

Is there no end to this torture?

[snacklist.livejournal.com]

[Al is more than a little surprised by the sight he sees when he makes it to this floor. it's a lot different than the others -- all this glass that gives a rather depressing view into... well, NOwhere but cloudy fog is disconcerting.

but the voice reaches him, and he isn't much later in taking a little tentative step toward the woman near the window, not wanting to startle her. she had a collar too -- was she in the same boat as him?]

Um-- excuse me, miss...

[she wasn't like the drones-like people wandering about. maybe she would talk to him?]

[latomatetas.livejournal.com]

[ She turns to look at the young man addressing her. He looked harmless, but the small seed of fear has already taken to her heart, and she thinks over her words before she speaks. ]

...Yes?

Floor 13: The Cathedral

[floreatnoctem.livejournal.com]

[This place is immense and silent- perhaps too silent.

Despite (or perhaps because of) this, Chidori likes it there. It helps her keep her thoughts in order as instead of becoming easier to understand, the tower gets more and more confusing. She's wandering between the pews today, not really searching for anything, but curious to see if she'll find anything- some hint at someone other than those in the tower having been there before. She doesn't notice the company until it's almost too late, and when she does, she just stands there, head tipped slightly in acknowledgement, expression quiet and contemplative.]

[snacklist.livejournal.com]

[when he enters, he almost immediately notices how his sense of hearing seems to get swallowed up by this immense cathedral. it's a little disorienting -- but more than that, curious to its functionality. it's an alchemist's habit, isn't it? he isn't even aware, at the moment, as he tries to puzzle things together and steps deeper inside.

he almost misses her, at first -- but the shock of red hair is hard to skip over his second time letting his eyes run over the interior, and he almost gives a start before catching her silent greeting.

he offers a slightly sheepish smile and wave in return, his footsteps halting where they were.]

I'm sorry if I disturbed you--

[err, his voice is getting swallowed up by this place. >:]

[floreatnoctem.livejournal.com]

[She could see his mouth moving, but all that reached her was an unintelligible murmur. She moved then, careful and controlled, up the aisle and back toward him, skirt swishing around her legs. It was lucky sound didn't carry as well here as it did outside- else the slight rustle of the chains connected to the axes she had on her person at all times might make him think she was a specter of the tower or something. She stopped short of him, head tilting back to look up at him, and she blinked once, slowly, before nodding a greeting.]

My apologies. I forget that this place is... odd sometimes.

Floor 6 - angry forest animals

[spiritsup.livejournal.com]

Romeo, after deciding that the animals in the forest where as trapped and scared as they were, had ventured forth to try and tell them that everything was going to be alright. However despite the fact that because of what the bad people had done Romeo now had four hooves instead of hands or feet, bones showing where the skin couldn't stretch, a long deer like nose also uncovered by skin and antlers, the animals hadn't been fooled. They had chased after him again and Romeo had had to fly very fast on his borrowed hoverboard to get away from them.

He got to the staircase to see the man about to enter the floor. He was worried that he would get hurt because of what Romeo had tried to do. "Sir! I think I made the animals even more angry, we should get out of here quickly!"

[snacklist.livejournal.com]

Al had made it half-way down at best when he'd spotted the commotion -- after all, this chaos would be rather hard to miss, wouldn't it? He hadn't seen anything quite like it... which was rather impressive, all things considered. A child-- no, a... chimera? The resemblance to those he'd seen... Nina, a little voice whispers, was unnerving -- was barreling toward the stairs on some sort of... flying-- technology?

Startled to say the least, Al stops as he's cautioned, hand gripping the railing... before he's gesturing up the stairs.

"Come on! Can you get up here?"

[spiritsup.livejournal.com]

"Yes sir!" Romeo wizzed over staying behind the man, "You go first!" He didn't want him to be hurt after all but once the man starts moving Romeo follows, he has to go slowly as he cannot grip the board as he has no hands but soon he is safe.

"I guess they are more angry and scared than I thought!" He told the man with a slightly scared smile.

Floor 8 - Let's figure out the maze!

[xbludjunkie.livejournal.com]

This tower just got worse and worse. No really. Just when Sam thought that the level of weird had hit it's zenith... He would have never believed that there was a maze that was way too big to fit in the tower. Except here he was, looking right at it. Seriously. It was at that point that Sam wasn't even shocked anymore.

And trying to figure it out was like trying to tie a shoe without laces. Every time he tried to conquer it, simply because he wanted to try and figure out if something useful was in the center, he always ended up back where he started. Frustrating wasn't even the word for it.

At least something different happened to distract him this time. There was definitively a new kidnapped victim standing there. Why did he think new? Because Sam had grown familiar with that oh crap, I don't think I'm in Kansas anymore kind of look.

"Hey."

how did I miss this?! /holds Sam

[snacklist.livejournal.com]

Alphonse was, indeed, rather out of his element.

He had that bewildered look on his face Sam must've seen quite often by now; this wasn't the first floor he'd explored (nor been baffled by), but it was no less strange or confusing. What was more frustrating was the fact he still hadn't the foggiest notion what he was doing here, or how he'd ended up in this place to begin with... collared and inexplicably left to wander at his leisure.

He looks up from where he'd been examining the first curve into the maze, and spotting a face that wasn't bereft of emotion like the drones occupying the majority of the other floors, he gives a tentative smile. It's by grace of the collar around Sam's neck as well that he guesses this man must be in something of the same boat as him. Still, he can't be sure -- so he's going to be cautious.

"Hello..."

Well, this pause isn't awkward at all. Nope. Not even a little. Really.

"Um--"

He takes a little step forward, offering a hand in greeting.

"My name is Alphonse. Did you wake up upstairs as well...?"

XD

[xbludjunkie.livejournal.com]

Awkward? No way. Not even a little bit.

Sam took the offered hand politely, offering a half smile that was probably more tentative than the one Alphonse was wearing. Honestly, Sam was being cautious too, because he was beginning to think that their were spies in the tower. Except Alphonse was new. How could a new person be a spy? Unless they pretended to be new so he would drop his guard?

"Sam," he released Alphonse's hand, "I woke up here about a month ago."

His expression turned into something empathetic now. He remembered first arriving here, and though he took it well, Sam was pretty sure not everyone was as used to weird as he was. "How long ago did you wake up?"

[terranities.livejournal.com]

[Cain had been simply walking, trying to set aside the new feelings of something watching and trying to contact him.

Occasionally he felt a whisper, a brush of hot breath against his cheek, but he was learning to push them down and away. For now.

But he's concentrating too hard, and bangs right into this poor newbie. Whoops.]

Oh! Ah... sorry.

[snacklist.livejournal.com]

[--whoa! Alphonse stumbles a step back, looking a little surprised before catching the apologetic expression on the other boy's face. ah... he's got a collar, too.]

N-no, it's okay...! I'm a little clumsy...

[hn; he looks kind of... pale.]

Are you alright, sir?

[terranities.livejournal.com]

[It was quite nice to be greeted with an apology instead of harsh words, even if the bumping encounter had been Cain's fault. Slightly rueful smile finding his lips, he nods and holds a hand out towards the stranger.]

I'm fine; and really, it was my fault. Are you okay?

Floor 20, excuse my lateness =X

[princesspowaful.livejournal.com]

[Molly liked this floor, it was almost like being outside. After being here for so long she really missed being outside. The breeze, the sound of traffic, being yelled at my street vendors, all of it. Molly had laid down in the middle of the room, just staring up, occasionally her arm would rise and she would draw something in the sky]

--and then we would fly in and beat the bad guys again.

nonsense! you're never late to this party /yea

[snacklist.livejournal.com]

[he feels a bit like he's disturbing when he sees her, walking up the stairs and into the opening of fog and cloud and... well, a sense of emptiness that was a little overwhelming.

was this the top?

he hesitates a moment, debating whether he should leave before he startles her, but-- most of the others inside wouldn't talk at all.

after a bit of internal back-and-forth, he finally takes another tentative step closer.]

Um-- excuse me...

/partaaaay

[princesspowaful.livejournal.com]

[She tilts her head back further to get a look at him. When it isn't anyone she recognizes she rolls over onto her stomach and sits up.]

[And have the biggest of smiles]

Hi! Are you new? I'm Molly! Are you lost?