towerofanimus | these truths are not gated

Entry tags:

these truths are not gated

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...

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[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.]

[Al was right. He would have had a fit if he'd heard Al thinking that. Good thing he's not telepathic, but that was neither here nor there.

He pushed himself up off the couch, his eyes never leaving Al. He didn't even blink. It was like he was afraid he'd disappear as soon as he stopped looking at him. This felt too real to be a dream and if he woke up after something like this it would break his heart.

Ed shook his head, looking up and studying ever single part of his face, committing all of it to memory -- the color of his hair, the expression in his eyes, the clear worry on his face. It was Al. This was Al. This was his brother. His ~~not so~~ little brother.]

I -

I don't know. How are you here? When... when did you...

[He swallowed the lump in his throat, taking a deep breath]

Your body. You... you got your body back... h-how? [Not that this was a bad thing, in fact if this was real, if he didn't wake up in two minutes... Al got his body back.]

Edited 2011-10-16 02:05 (UTC)

[the look of surprise on his face is pretty open to read -- he looks so lost, because he is. lost, and totally dumbstruck.

brother's... arm, and...

is he dreaming, after all? he doesn't like that he seems to be distressing Ed, too. he never wants to worry his brother like that... not after Ed had spent so long struggling just to get his body back.

and now he doesn't seem to remember at all... no; it's more like--

it didn't happen yet? he's younger; that's why he's smaller, and why his arm is... ah. that makes sense... while making no sense at all.

how...? ...he has to be dreaming... and Al's mouth works a second, but he doesn't know what to say. >: brother, what's going on?]

[Ed had been here long enough to know that the tower had no qualms pulling people from various points in their own timeline. There were even doubles of some people from alternate versions of that same timeline -- one choice that changes everything. It was all just one more reason to add to the growing "there is no way our worlds have been destroyed and here's why" pile. But he didn't expect it to happen to him, not like this anyway.

He didn't expect this place would let him know that something good was supposed to happen in his future. Al was here. Al was here and he was human. One way or another, they got his body back and for now that was more than enough. Ed was silent, for the first time in a very long time he was at a loss for words.

So much he wanted to ask. So much he wanted to know. So much he wanted to say. But where the hell was he supposed to start?]

[that silence is deafening and it's heavy; he doesn't like it, much. not when it was joined by that look on brother's face.

even if this is a dream, or something like that... he doesn't want him to be afraid or worried.

Al reaches out and takes his brother's good hand, squeezing it tightly before a tentative smile tugs at his lips. he's not sure about this being the right thing, but...]

Your hand is... really warm, brother.

[maybe this was a good dream, if it'd started in a strangely uncomfortable setting. maybe he was visiting his memories of the past, giving Ed the comfort and confidence to go into the future without doubts like he wished he could've so many times before.]

You got my body back. It was you... you kept your promise, just like we knew you would.

[Al takes his hand and it's warm. It's not made of cool metal, it's not a hollow shell. It's real -- flesh and blood, muscles and bones and veins and ligaments and joints. He feels his lip start to tremble and he bites it in an attempt to keep himself calm, but the rest of him is shaking. His breathing irregular and choppy, his heart pounding so hard he could hear his own pulse. More importantly, he could feel Al's pulse.

And his voice. Al's voice is ringing in his ears -- "You got my body back. It was you... you kept your promise, just like we knew you would".

Suddenly he's dizzy, his throat tight and dry. He stomach twists, his heart feels like it's about to burst, his vision starts to blur, and for once it's not because he made a mistake. It's not because he fucked up. It's not because he regrets a decision. It's not because he feels guilty. For once it was something good, it was something he did, but it was something that he did right.

His shoulders hunch as he looks down at the floor, he tries to speak but all that comes out of his mouth is a choked sob. One that wracks his entire body, that makes his lungs burn, makes his eyes sting as they well up with tears.

Please, don't let this be a dream. Please, let this be real.]

We... we actually... A-Al I -- [he chokes back another sob, he can't look up just yet, so he watches his tears pool at his feet while a wide grin spreads across his face. The sob turns into a laugh -- not bitter, or sad, or sarcastic. Just hopeful. happy]

Edited 2011-10-16 03:49 (UTC)

[seeing him like this tugs at every heart-string he's got, and maybe more he wasn't even aware he had. he really didn't know... did he?

Al doesn't know how this is possible, or if he's going to wake up from this strange dream soon -- but he doesn't quite want to. not while brother is hurting, even if it's a good sort of ache, this time.

Al rests his hands at Ed's shoulders, squeezing.]

You really did it...

[you did it, Ed. do you see? it's not just a dream-- or, well maybe it is, right now... but it's reality for Al. you can do it-- no. you will do it!]

[This hurts far too much to be a dream. His breath catches painfully in his chest, squeezing his eyes shut as he tries to remember how to breathe. Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat.

It's too good to be true. His brother. His little brother. He got him back. He got Al back from the other side of the Gate. He lifts his head and stares up at the ceiling for a minute. He runs a hand through his hair and covers his face with his good hand, still in a state of shock and disbelief and... and... RELIEF. All he can do is grin and laugh and he doesn't bother trying to stop the tears running down his cheeks. He doesn't mind. Not when it's for something so incredible. Ed's pretty sure his face is going to crack if he tried smiling any wider, but that doesn't stop him from trying as he finally looks back at Al, his voice still shakes, but there's a softness to it that wasn't there before. Hasn't been there for a long, long time.]

If you weren't standing in front of me I wouldn't be able to believe it. I just...

It's good to see you again, Al. [A brofist needs to happen right now. Possibly followed by a hug, but brofist first. Much more important.]

It's good to see you again too!

[he means it, enthusiastically cheerful -- even if it's been a while since they've been back for him, it doesn't ever change. he's so glad to have his body back, to be able to see Ed with his own two eyes.

he skips operation brofist, because he isn't a loser, and goes right to rub at Ed's face teasingly with the end of his sleeve.]

...Even if you're all soggy.

Edited 2011-10-16 04:42 (UTC)

[Well fine be that way Alphonse it's not like Ed would ever want to be bros with his little bro gosh. You just go right ahead and wipe his face like he's a kid and poke fun at him with that ~~not so~~ stupid smile that he can actually see. Go on. Do it.

Too bad Ed's too happy to care. He laughs and swats at Al's hand. He can wipe at his own face thank you. And he does just that while he continues to smile like the biggest dork ever.]

Oh, thanks a lot, Al. I appreciate it. Jerk.

[this how he do, Ed. it how he do.

he grins happily at that, but his contented chuckle in response is cut short when he realizes his brother has a collar around his neck, too.

maybe seeing his big brother in the past made sense in a dream... but this? he doesn't understand what's going on in his head at all. not to mention the... unnerving occurrences on some of the other floors he'd touched on before this one.]

Ed?

[he stretches fingers again, this time to touch that collar with a little perplexity and concern.]

Am I... dreaming?

[And then reality comes back to bite them both in the ass. Ed's smile fades a little when his eyes settle on the collar around Al's neck and he shakes his head.]

... No, this isn't a dream. Did you read the note yet? Should've been by your bed when you woke up.

[shaking his head, too, that little worry is back in his eyes. he doesn't like the way Ed's smile dissolved so fast.]

No... I didn't see it. I went to check the door first and when it was unlocked...

[well, pretty obvious he didn't double back to sniff out the empty room for anything interesting when there was a tower to explore and hopefully... escape?]

Did it say something important? It might still be there if we go back.

[He nods and motions towards the stairs.]

C'mon. You should read it. What room are you in?

[Al's right on his heels, still looking perplexed.]

1-08.

[sldkjfsdf EXPLAIN ED, don't leave hm in the dark!! he wants to ask a dozen questions, trying to restrain his curiosity and let his brother take the lead in this.]

What is this place?

[It'll be easier to explain things after you read the stupid letter ok. He heads down the stairs heading towards the dorms.]

It's a tower and before you ask, there's no way to get out of here. At least not that we've found.

We?

[they're not alone, but he didn't see any familiar faces on the way and no one would really talk to him. most of them barely even looked his way.]

Yeah. There's no one else here that you'd recognize, but there's a lot of people here that are all in the same boat as us. It'll be a little easier to explain after you read the letter.

[so this wasn't a dream, and both of them are trapped here? he isn't sure this makes sense, but he's keeping his reservations to himself and trusting his brother. maybe it would come together when he read this note he's hearing so much about.

for now, all he does is nod on the way to the dormitories again. could a little letter really explain all this?]

[At lot of things don't make sense anymore. His head is still reeling as he continues down the stairs, trying to sort everything out, trying to let it sink in that Al was here, really here, and back in his own body. Al's trust is more than appreciated -- the quiet is helpful and his thoughts finally start coming together to form complete and coherent sentences. But now that his mind has started to settle, things that he would have noticed earlier under different circumstances started to demand his attention.

Things about Al. How he looked. The last time he went through the Gate to get out of Gluttony's broken portal he saw Al's body. It was thin, emaciated, and so brittle that Ed was worried his legs might break under him when he stood up. Al's body, the one with it's soul, the one walking just behind him looked nothing like that. He'd filled out, he looked healthy, Ed didn't have to be concerned about the wind sweeping him away.

No, Al looked nothing like what he saw beyond the Gate. How much time had passed? Putting on all that weight would have taken months. Building up the strength to walk and lift his arms, hell to do anything that wasn't laying down or sitting, would have taken just as long, if not longer.

The dorms were just ahead, but he couldn't wait until after Al read the letter. He had to know.]

Al... How old are you now?

[he's got that little frown of thought at his brow the further they go, but he's taken from whatever had been on his mind when the question comes from his brother.

so, Ed noticed too.

he looks a little awkward... um. why does he feel like he's about to get yelled at? it's not like he can help it...]

I just turned eighteen a little bit ago. Winry made the best cake, brother! It was really delicious.

[how old is Ed? it's hard to tell... sixteen, maybe seventeen? approaching eighteen at the oldest if he still hadn't got his arm and leg back...

you know what he's just not. going to ask. ahem.]

[eighteen. Al just turned eighteen. Ed turned seventeen only a couple of months ago and Al was eighteen. It had been two years. Two. Years. Part of him isn't surprised, it makes sense. Just looking at him was proof enough.

...

Still, that didn't mean he had to like it. Wasn't HE the older brother? This was not how things worked. The older brother should STAY the older brother. Ed stopped at the door to Al's room, covering his face with his hand.]

You're eighteen.

... [he sighed and shook his head. THIS. WAS. HORRIBLE. AWESOME ALCHEMY SKILLS? NOPE. HE DOESN'T NEED A CIRCLE EITHER. HEIGHT? HAHAHAHA OH THAT WAS FUNNY. OLDER BROTHER STATUS? GONE. It's stupid and petty and he really shouldn't make a big deal out of this, but... Ed will be Ed.]

Damn it that is NOT fair. What the... You are two years older than you should be, Al!

[ah, well... some things never change, do they? he can't help but chuckle at Ed's expression, resting a hand lightly on his shoulder in consolation. somehow, the fact that THIS is what he dwells on in these circumstances makes it a lot less unnerving.]

I guess that makes you two years younger than you're supposed to be, brother!

[and he. Just. Stares. LOOKING THE MOST OFFENDED EVER. YOU WOUND HIM, SIR.]

Is that supposed to make me feel BETTER?

[now he's laughing, unable to help it... before he's moving into the dormitory again and holding the door ajar for Ed to follow.]

At least I'm not much taller than you anymore, right? [he holds a hand up to his head. yes, a great deal shorter than he had been in the armor, huh... heh.]

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lol tagging from my phone

like a boss!!

AWW YEAH

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