Log - Ed talking with Russell and Van.
Log between superman_dead, wortcunning, and draconicroyal, the night before everyone went after Dante. [[This log was already done prior to that; the mun just hadn't had a chance to clean it up and post it until now.]]
(( ((>_> I'm thinking he's still on the first floor- the wiring and piping is tricky, and that has to be put in with Triv's help, so... yeah.))
((::nodnods:: Or if not the first floor then the skeleton for the building, the basic walls and struts and supports >_> those'd go up first before everything else))
((::nodnodnodnods:: >_> He's putting in the skeleton and some of the actual wall and such.))
Van> ::hands in his pockets, sword strapped to his side, wandering over to the construction site; mun gets the feeling it's after dark Ed> ::yup, so the flashes of light from his work, and the work light he has rigged up so he can see what he's doing, are probably pretty obvious::
Van> ::walking up, looking over the building, watching him curiously with avid interest:: So this is alchemy...
Ed> ::jumps a little, hand moving to his elbow- blinks; then runs his hand through his hair:: Oh, it's you. ::kind of a 'thank god' tone there:: Yeah. ::looks at his work:: It works on a principle of equivalent exchange. Submit the equal mass of the materials you need to create what you want. Usually you need an array...
Van> ::looking over the house:: Interesting... I've heard of it, mostly in the records from Zaibach, but I've never seen it before. This is the house?
Ed> ::crouching to put some more wood and whatever material he's using for insulation where he needs it before clap and poof! a little more structure up:: Yeah. Apartment building, actually. Mom mentioned wanting as many of us near her as possible, we'll need a lot of room, and at least some of us are a bit too private to wanna share an actual -house-, you know?
Van> Oh... makes sense. Anything I can to do to help?
Ed> ::thinks... points over to a support beam:: Can you test how durable that one is for me? Something felt off in that one when it went up.
Van> >_> Sure. Want me to get up there and walk on that connecting beam and see what happens?
Ed> .. >_> That works. I don't think anything will give.
Van> If something does, don't worry about it. ::smirks a bit, unbuckling his sword, adjusting his gloves, then jumping a bit, grabbing hold and swinging up - hey, you've seen how he handles Escaflowne, especially from the air - standing and walking on the beam::
Beam> ::it's wobbly, but it holds; that's great for a catwalk, might not be for a house::
Van> >_> It's pretty shaky. It's not gonna give, unless somebody else got up here and tried getting into a swordfight with me.
Ed> ::quiet chuckle:: If I had my automail instead of this thing, I might just do that to see how long it takes 'til it gives. ::shakes his head:: I wonder if it's the wood or something. >_> ::considering...::
Van> ::thinking, kinda bouncing a little on the balls of his feet, looking down at it:: Is it just this one?
Ed> That's the only one that felt funny when I transmuted it. Go ahead and test the others though, if you want
Van> ::eyes him, walking around on the supports, just out for a stroll:: What do you mean, it felt funny?
Ed> It just... It's like biting on tin foil. You know that feeling? Sends an odd signal through the nerves in your teeth. It was kinda like that.
Van> ... Never bit on this 'tin foil'. >_> I'll take your word for it though. Could be kinda like the feeling I get when I 'see' something hidden.
Ed> See something hidden? ::raising an eyebrow::
Van> Something Hitomi taught me to do. She called it 'dowsing'. She usually used the pendant to focus, although I've been able to do it without it. It helped me to sense out where cloaked guymelefs were in battle. ::making the structure his own personal jungle gym here::
Ed> ... you can see things that are invisible?
Van> Yes and no. I can sense them, and sort of see them in my mind.
Ed> ::quiet... nods:: I can understand that. Like the knowledge is just suddenly there?
Van> Yeah. I have to concentrate and work for it, but when it comes, there it is.
Ed> ... ::thinking:: Can you find anything that way?
Van> ::nods:: Yeah, I can. I don't know if I'm as good as Hitomi - she found me after I was captured by Zaibach during the Destiny War by using the pendant and a map, but it's possible.
Ed> ... could you find someone you've never met?
Van> The missing Hawkeye? ... I don't know. I can always give it a try.
Ed> Envy said she was in a warehouse, or at least Dante was. I doubt Dante'd keep her too far from herself. ::looks hopeful:: I suppose you couldn't at least confirm that?
Van> ... I could try. I'm not sure if I'd be able to do it sight unseen this far away. But I could probably locate her once I'm there.
Ed> ... ::nods, taking a seat, obviously done for the moment with his work:: All right. ::quiet a second:: I'll put you on the retrieval team rather than the combat one.
Van> ... ::nods:: I can do that. ::jumping down:: It's just that one. >_> Maybe there's something wrong inside the beam, termites or something?
Ed> >_> I didn't notice any life energy in it, so if it's termite damage, it's old. ::getting up and walking over to the support beam, walking around it... putting a hand on the wood, kind of mentally 'feeling' for what's off... slides his hand down near the base:: ... >_> It's rotted. Well, that explains it.
Russell> ::not in the light yet, but nearby enough to hear:: That can be fixed.
Ed> ::JUMPS!:: ... >_< DAMNIT, TRINGHAM!
Van> ::already on alert, reaching for his sword, picking the belt up, eyeing Ed and Russell:: Friend of yours?
Russell> ::moving into the light, a tired smirk on his face:: Good evening to you too, Elric.
Ed> -_- Mutual pain in the ass is more like it. ::sighs:: What is it, Russell?
Russell> Nothing much. Unless you're talking about the beam. >_> You can transmutate out the rotted parts and replace it.
Ed> Yeah, I planned on it. ::eyeing the beam... looks over at him:: ... Don't you have a job to be doing? ::is it safe to be talking to me?::
Russell> I gave her my resignation. I did the research and calculations and I'm not stupid enough to try her idea of pulling a stone out of the gate.
Ed> ... -That's- what she's trying to- .... wait. ::turning pale- Al was the Stone::
Russell> ... wait what?
Van> ::arms crossed, listening Ed> ::kind of a flat, quiet tone:: Did she say what Stone she was trying to get? There's a lot of things the Gate has taken for payment. ::like my arm and leg, Al's body, Al's -other- body, whatever it took from Dad for Envy, etc...::
Russell> ::shakes his head:: I don't think she's fishing for anything specific. >_>
Ed> ... Good. ::closes his eyes, shaking his head::
Van> Ed> ::shakes his head:: Just... the Stone from my world... I don't want her having her hands on any Stone, but especially not that one.
Van> ::nods::
Russell> ::eyeing him:: I don't believe we've met. Russell Tringham. ::holding his hand out::
Ed> ::still worried that Dante would try for -that- Stone just to be a -bitch-::
Van> Van Slanzar de Fanel. ::slight nod, shaking his hand::
Russell> ::letting go, looking at Ed:: .. I've still not been able to find out where she's staying or keeping her.
Ed> ... ::closes his eyes; small nod:: Thanks.
Russell> ... ::eyeing him, walking over to the beam in question, crouching and studying it:: She doesn't trust me worth a damn, never did. I think we both knew it was a game.
Ed> She's clever. I hate her guts, but I gotta admit she's clever. She's lived four hundred years and run the country with nobody ever knowing. You can't do that and be stupid.
Russell> No, I know... There was just still the chance, so... it was worth a shot. Got any scrap lumber handy? >_>
Ed> Yeah, there's some over there. Geoff gave me way more than I needed. ::runs his hand through his hair tiredly::
Russell> ::standing, walking over and grabbing a few planks, bringing them back and drawing arrays on them and the beam with some chalk, replacing the rotted areas and merging the new wood with the beam:: There... that should do it.
Ed> ::small smile:: Thanks, Russell. ::not just for the woodwork there::
Russell> ::small nod:: So what're the plans?
Ed> ... ::sighs:: Right now, we got a pretty good sized group of people. I think Al, Greed and I will go after Dante. He- ::points to Van:: -said he might have a way to find Riza, so I'm thinking I'll put him and Mustang and his lieutenant to finding Riza before anything can be done with her. Normally I wouldn't send any Mustang after her.. she's got enough issues, and Envy used his face to trick her, but... Sloth is probably with Dante. ::frowns:: And Sloth uses water, which is the Colonel's weak point. So sending him on the other team would be sending him to his death.
Russell> ::nods:: What about the fat one?
Ed> ... Shit. Gluttony. ::frustrated sigh; thinking...:: You know what I don't get? ::looks at Russell:: The homunculii have red stones in them, right? Why the fuck doesn't she just transmute one of -them- into a Stone? ::considering that for a way home to Al? not at all!::
Russell> Red Stones aren't complete Philosopher's Stones. I have no idea what kind of power would be needed to transmutate someone's soul into someone else, but wouldn't that take a lot?
Ed> The red stones aren't complete, but there's a lot of them in a homunculus. Never mind that the woman's never made a perfect Stone in her life anyway. And... no. :;shakes his head:: Her soul transference wouldn't take a lot of power. It's a soul binding. I was able to do one at the cost of just an arm. That's the thing though, she doesn't want to have to pay a price at all, even though the price would more than likely be extracted from her old body and no longer anything for her to worry about.
Russell> ... ::frowns, thinking:: Good point. ... might she be up to something else?
Ed> No... I don't think so. She and the old man both used Stones to transfer their souls. Probably is less risky to them is all. And given how vain she is? Of course she's watching her own ass.
Russell> ::nods:: ... you hitting her tomorrow?
Ed> Yeah, or... well, as soon as people show up. ::frowns:: Some people are still ... I dunno where. -_-* I'm getting close to saying fuckit and going myself, but... ::sighs:: I can't take her alone, and I damn well know it. Not with two homunculii to worry about. And anyway, Al would kick my ass for it. Both this one and my own.
Russell> ... She doesn't have a Stone. You should be getting at least a little rest before taking her on instead of doing this.
Ed> ... ::looks at him:: ... sure, if you happen to have an herbal remedy for insomnia. ::rather dry tone there::
Russell> The classic 2x4 to the head's always a good standby. ::smirks::
Ed> ¬_¬ Thanks but no thanks. I'll be walking away with enough bumps and bruises tomorrow.
Russell> Anything I could do to help with that?
Ed> What, tomorrow, or the bumps and bruises I'm expecting? ::wry smirk::
Russell> ::smirks:: Either or both would work. ^_^
Ed> Count's gonna play doctor for us. Any herbal painkillers or antibiotics you know of that you can provide for him would be nice. Otherwise... keep an eye on Fletcher. God only knows how vindictive she might be.
Russell> ::nods:: Understood. I'll think I'm going to keep an eye on Fletcher. I'll come by with some stuff to see if there's anything I need to help with... what're you using for a base?
Ed> Riza's apartment. I want Hughes and Fuery there running the radios, and then helping Count however they can.
Russell> ::nods:: I'll come by there then. ::starting to turn, stops, looks at him:: ... before I forget.. do you know if the Mustang from her world has an eye injury?
Ed> ... yeah, he does, why?
Russell> ... there's a new Mustang in the Nexus. It's sort of him, but I don't know if it's the same one. He's still a Brigadier General, and she was still with him last he saw of her when I asked.
Ed> ... I'll deal with him later. If you see him before I do though, tell him he's not allowed anywhere near this Riza. He tries, I'll give him a matching injury on his other eye.
Russell> ... o_O ::blinks:: Uh... okay... >_>; What'd he do?
Ed> He abandoned her. That's enough. Besides, he's the last person she needs to see right now.
Russell> Uh... o_O ... all right. Well, I'll see you tomorrow. Good luck. Try to get -some- rest, mkay?
Ed> Yeah, I'll try. Thanks, Russell.
Van> ::he's here, he's just not sure who everybody is or all the backstories here, so he's just listening::
Russell> ::nods, heading off::
Ed> ::yeah, almost forgot he was there; kinda staring off in the distance, thinking...::
Van> ::watching him...:: ... What's on your mind?
Ed> ::blinks!; looks over:: ... Oh. Just... ::sighs:: Everything. >_<;;; My mind moves faster than I do. I don't want to face that woman tomorrow. ... and I -really- don't want to deal with it if that's the Roy from mine and Riza's world.
Van> ... Yeah. ::rueful tone:: I kinda know how that first one goes pretty good too. -_-; I don't think any sane person looks forward to fights they know're coming. ... what's up with the other though?
Ed> ::quiet a second- trying to find a believable excuse so he doesn't have to say the real reason:: ... He abandoned her. I can't forgive that, and quite frankly, I don't want to have to deal with someone I used to respect that did something like that. Maybe I just never got over my father doing that to my mother, I dunno. ::okay, more like he got over there, when he found out why, but hasn't gotten over the second abandonment::
Van> ... sounds familiar enough. ... ::eyeing him:: ... ::outside looking in, why would it concern Ed if that's the same Roy if Riza was involved with him?:: ... you care about her, then?
Ed> ::looks up quickly, blinking:: ... ::small shrug:: Yeah, I mean, she took me in, took my mother in. She's a friend, so yeah, I care about her. I don't want to see her hurt. ::and she's the only one that needs me, so without her, where does that leave me?::
Van> ::nods:: You think she'd go back to him?
Ed> ... ::shrugs:: She did once.
Van> ... -_-; Oh. Yeah. ::kind of a 'one of those, then' tone:: Well, it didn't sound like it's him, from the information he gave. ::nods in the direction Russell went::
Ed> No, it didn't. So him I can warn so he doesn't make the same stupid mistake his alternate did. ::eyes Van:: She doesn't see it as abandonment. She's too busy being guilty for nearly killing him by accident. ::caught the "one of those" tone- Riza is normally a smart girl, she really is ;_;::
Van> ... ::shakes his head a little:: Sounds like a hell of a mess you've got there to sort though. ::rueful smile:: I'll help with the Dante thing, but I do believe I'll stay out of the other. I never quite got all of mine sorted out right myself yet.
Ed> ::chuckles:: Can't say that I blame you. I'm not sure -I- want to be part of it, honestly, but... she needs someone right now. ::don't let that supposedly rueful smile fool you, Van- he's happy to be needed::
Van> ::little smile:: it's sounding like she's in good hands, though.
Ed> ::blinks! ... quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his head:: Yeah, here's hoping, huh? Never been a placebo for someone like that.
Van> ::blinks:: A placebo?
Ed> I'm not what she really needs, and I know it. Best I can do is stand around and be someone for her to lean on a little. What she needs is ... well, him. The old him. Thing is, I've seen what happens when someone abandons their loved ones. They keep doing it. So she's not gonna be able to get that.
Van> ... ::little frown:: ... Well. ... If you're sure about doing that, it's your call. ::nods::
Ed> ::quiet a second:: You'd handle it differently?
Van> ... I don't know. ... it just sounds like a good way to get burnt, though. ::yes, speaking on the position Ed's in::
Ed> ::shaky chuckle:: Boy, if there's anything I'm used to... ::leans back against the support beam:: I don't know. I guess I'm being a bit selfish here.
Van> O_o? Huh? ::leaning against another one:: How's that?
Ed> ... ::looks at the ground, really wishing he hadn't said it at all- he's tired and stressed, it kinda slipped out:: ... I can't handle not being needed to take care of someone. Never could. Just... some quirk I developed after Dad left Mom.
Van> ... and you'd like her to stick around to need you.
Ed> ... ::now he's -really- down right ashamed of himself; not answering, nor looking up::
Van> ::quiet for a few moments, thinking:: If she needs you, stay, and hold on. ... But don't hold on too tight. Sometimes there's a time to let go if their fate is somewhere else. ... and I know it's a hell of a lot easier said than done. I've been there.
Ed> ::closes his eyes, but nods faintly- yeah, he knows. he's grown up enough to get that. he's learned to let go. he's just not learned how to cope with it afterwards::
Van> And if all you're being is a placebo, I can't see how that's the slightest bit fair to you either.
Ed> ::okay, that gets a rather bitter laugh outta him:: I figure that's fine. Equivalent exchange and all. I did it to someone else for awhile, after all. ::small shrug:: Sorry, I didn't mean for my troubles to become yours or anything.
Van> If it was too much trouble, I wouldn't have asked. ... I'm certainly not going to tell you what to do. You know everybody involved far better than I. Just be sure you know what you're doing, and... ... well... good luck. ::faint smile::
Ed> ::small smile:: Thanks. ::tilts his head:: What about you? Still having troubles with advisors?
Van> ... heh. -_-; When I get home? Always. -_- I don't wanna marry that woman. o_< about the only thing worse I can think is marrying Princess Eries.
Ed> What exactly is the situation with that, anyway?
Van> Oh... everybody save for a few intelligent people who actually know what's going on think the idea of me marrying somebody who damn near destroyed Fanelia is a nifty idea. Only, see, they don't know it was her 'cause at the time, she was a guy. ::smirks::
Ed> .... she was a guy? ::okay, that makes his eyebrows raise::
Van> Remember that Dornkirk I mentioned? He created this thing called a Fate Alteration Machine. Celena Schezar was one of the many abducted children used in experiments. They did a fate alteration on her, turned her into a psychotic albino male. When the machine was destroyed, she reverted back to Celena. ::how many psychotic albino guys did you meet recently that Van knows, btw?::
Ed> ::remembers -_-:: ... wait, that Dilandau guy? O_o ... ::frowns:: And Fate Alteration? That sounds like brainwashing to me.
Van> You got it. Dilandau's Celena and vice versa. I don't care how well you wash someone's brain, people don't just genderswap like that.
Ed> No... sounds like human transmutation. ::makes a face:: Just the sounds of it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Van> Let's just say Dilandau and I have a very, very long history of passionate mutual hatred and have gone all-out in our efforts to kill each other. He burned the capital city of Fanelia nearly to the ground. Now he's back to being my best friend's sister. Out of respect to him, I'm staying quiet.
Van> But they want me to make that woman queen and give her power of Fanelia? I don't think so. -_-* Nevermind the fact marrying her would require -touching- her.
Ed> ... O_o Most people don't just 'go back' to being someone else. ::thinking...:: How did Dilandau feel about Celena's brother?
Van> Thought he was a womanizing playboy and hated his guts.
Ed> ... and she just went back to being his sister? ::raising an eyebrow- outside looking in, and hi logic, does not compute::
Van> Mmhmm. ::nods:: -_- I don't know what to make of that.
Ed> ... sounds like someone had their mind turned into something against their will, and finally got control back.
Van> ... -_-* It's still her. And how much of her was in him and vice versa? And what's more, if it ever gets found out that the woman formerly known as Dilandau is in a position of power over a kingdom he once nearly destroyed... ::hands clenching:: She's gotten off with the murder of hundreds.
Ed> You can't know how much of it was her without asking, really. But how a person acts can be a big clue. Nobody's that's good of an actor, except maybe Envy. ::shrugs:: It's reminding me of what Dante did to Greed not long ago. She all but wiped his mind. He's a bit of an ass, but a nice guy, overall. Turned into a complete monster because of what she did. Al and some others managed to undo it, and he's back to normal. He also feels pretty bad about what happened.
Van> ... I can't look at her without seeing Dilandau. All things considered, they didn't look dissimilar at all, except for him being bleached out.
Ed> And male, but you wouldn't entirely know from looking at him. >_> ::chuckles:: Look, I'm not trying to say anything one way or another on the marriage thing- that sounds like a royalty thing that I don't know a thing about. But maybe hating her isn't the way to go.
Van> -_-; She's also a pretty insufferable bitch on her own. -_-; Not to mention, she's got plenty reason to hate me too. ... I single-handedly in one battle killed everyone who Dilandau -did- give a damn about.
Ed> I haven't met her myself, so I dunno what she acts like, but I know if someone was holding me responsible for crimes that I had no control over, I'd be pretty pissed off at them.
Van> -_-* ::and the mun starts laughing at him; he can be calm and mature easily enough... until certain buttons get pushed, then it's all back to Mister "I'll anger-manage your face D:" again; at least he's not -talking- but inwardly he's muttering some pretty childish shit XD:: ::No, Ed... for as together and smart as this guy can seem, he's got his own subscription to issues and can be a selfish brat too :D so don't feel left out::
Ed> ... ::seeing he's hit some hot buttons; shrugs:: Hey, outside looking in, is all. I don't know the people involved. I'm just saying that you might not either. Peace is easier to attain when people talk instead of just blindly hate. Anyway, I think I'm gonna see if I can find out what this 'rest' thing that Russell talked about was. ::yeah, it makes him feel a little better. ... he's still pretty damn ashamed of himself though::
Van> -_- All right. Probably a good idea all the way around. -_- I'll see you later.
Ed> ::waves to him as he wanders off- not actually going far; wanna take a guess where he's been sleeping? Yeah, the construction site. no wonder he looked like hell the other day::
(( ((>_> I'm thinking he's still on the first floor- the wiring and piping is tricky, and that has to be put in with Triv's help, so... yeah.))
((::nodnods:: Or if not the first floor then the skeleton for the building, the basic walls and struts and supports >_> those'd go up first before everything else))
((::nodnodnodnods:: >_> He's putting in the skeleton and some of the actual wall and such.))
Van> ::hands in his pockets, sword strapped to his side, wandering over to the construction site; mun gets the feeling it's after dark Ed> ::yup, so the flashes of light from his work, and the work light he has rigged up so he can see what he's doing, are probably pretty obvious::
Van> ::walking up, looking over the building, watching him curiously with avid interest:: So this is alchemy...
Ed> ::jumps a little, hand moving to his elbow- blinks; then runs his hand through his hair:: Oh, it's you. ::kind of a 'thank god' tone there:: Yeah. ::looks at his work:: It works on a principle of equivalent exchange. Submit the equal mass of the materials you need to create what you want. Usually you need an array...
Van> ::looking over the house:: Interesting... I've heard of it, mostly in the records from Zaibach, but I've never seen it before. This is the house?
Ed> ::crouching to put some more wood and whatever material he's using for insulation where he needs it before clap and poof! a little more structure up:: Yeah. Apartment building, actually. Mom mentioned wanting as many of us near her as possible, we'll need a lot of room, and at least some of us are a bit too private to wanna share an actual -house-, you know?
Van> Oh... makes sense. Anything I can to do to help?
Ed> ::thinks... points over to a support beam:: Can you test how durable that one is for me? Something felt off in that one when it went up.
Van> >_> Sure. Want me to get up there and walk on that connecting beam and see what happens?
Ed> .. >_> That works. I don't think anything will give.
Van> If something does, don't worry about it. ::smirks a bit, unbuckling his sword, adjusting his gloves, then jumping a bit, grabbing hold and swinging up - hey, you've seen how he handles Escaflowne, especially from the air - standing and walking on the beam::
Beam> ::it's wobbly, but it holds; that's great for a catwalk, might not be for a house::
Van> >_> It's pretty shaky. It's not gonna give, unless somebody else got up here and tried getting into a swordfight with me.
Ed> ::quiet chuckle:: If I had my automail instead of this thing, I might just do that to see how long it takes 'til it gives. ::shakes his head:: I wonder if it's the wood or something. >_> ::considering...::
Van> ::thinking, kinda bouncing a little on the balls of his feet, looking down at it:: Is it just this one?
Ed> That's the only one that felt funny when I transmuted it. Go ahead and test the others though, if you want
Van> ::eyes him, walking around on the supports, just out for a stroll:: What do you mean, it felt funny?
Ed> It just... It's like biting on tin foil. You know that feeling? Sends an odd signal through the nerves in your teeth. It was kinda like that.
Van> ... Never bit on this 'tin foil'. >_> I'll take your word for it though. Could be kinda like the feeling I get when I 'see' something hidden.
Ed> See something hidden? ::raising an eyebrow::
Van> Something Hitomi taught me to do. She called it 'dowsing'. She usually used the pendant to focus, although I've been able to do it without it. It helped me to sense out where cloaked guymelefs were in battle. ::making the structure his own personal jungle gym here::
Ed> ... you can see things that are invisible?
Van> Yes and no. I can sense them, and sort of see them in my mind.
Ed> ::quiet... nods:: I can understand that. Like the knowledge is just suddenly there?
Van> Yeah. I have to concentrate and work for it, but when it comes, there it is.
Ed> ... ::thinking:: Can you find anything that way?
Van> ::nods:: Yeah, I can. I don't know if I'm as good as Hitomi - she found me after I was captured by Zaibach during the Destiny War by using the pendant and a map, but it's possible.
Ed> ... could you find someone you've never met?
Van> The missing Hawkeye? ... I don't know. I can always give it a try.
Ed> Envy said she was in a warehouse, or at least Dante was. I doubt Dante'd keep her too far from herself. ::looks hopeful:: I suppose you couldn't at least confirm that?
Van> ... I could try. I'm not sure if I'd be able to do it sight unseen this far away. But I could probably locate her once I'm there.
Ed> ... ::nods, taking a seat, obviously done for the moment with his work:: All right. ::quiet a second:: I'll put you on the retrieval team rather than the combat one.
Van> ... ::nods:: I can do that. ::jumping down:: It's just that one. >_> Maybe there's something wrong inside the beam, termites or something?
Ed> >_> I didn't notice any life energy in it, so if it's termite damage, it's old. ::getting up and walking over to the support beam, walking around it... putting a hand on the wood, kind of mentally 'feeling' for what's off... slides his hand down near the base:: ... >_> It's rotted. Well, that explains it.
Russell> ::not in the light yet, but nearby enough to hear:: That can be fixed.
Ed> ::JUMPS!:: ... >_< DAMNIT, TRINGHAM!
Van> ::already on alert, reaching for his sword, picking the belt up, eyeing Ed and Russell:: Friend of yours?
Russell> ::moving into the light, a tired smirk on his face:: Good evening to you too, Elric.
Ed> -_- Mutual pain in the ass is more like it. ::sighs:: What is it, Russell?
Russell> Nothing much. Unless you're talking about the beam. >_> You can transmutate out the rotted parts and replace it.
Ed> Yeah, I planned on it. ::eyeing the beam... looks over at him:: ... Don't you have a job to be doing? ::is it safe to be talking to me?::
Russell> I gave her my resignation. I did the research and calculations and I'm not stupid enough to try her idea of pulling a stone out of the gate.
Ed> ... -That's- what she's trying to- .... wait. ::turning pale- Al was the Stone::
Russell> ... wait what?
Van> ::arms crossed, listening Ed> ::kind of a flat, quiet tone:: Did she say what Stone she was trying to get? There's a lot of things the Gate has taken for payment. ::like my arm and leg, Al's body, Al's -other- body, whatever it took from Dad for Envy, etc...::
Russell> ::shakes his head:: I don't think she's fishing for anything specific. >_>
Ed> ... Good. ::closes his eyes, shaking his head::
Van> Ed> ::shakes his head:: Just... the Stone from my world... I don't want her having her hands on any Stone, but especially not that one.
Van> ::nods::
Russell> ::eyeing him:: I don't believe we've met. Russell Tringham. ::holding his hand out::
Ed> ::still worried that Dante would try for -that- Stone just to be a -bitch-::
Van> Van Slanzar de Fanel. ::slight nod, shaking his hand::
Russell> ::letting go, looking at Ed:: .. I've still not been able to find out where she's staying or keeping her.
Ed> ... ::closes his eyes; small nod:: Thanks.
Russell> ... ::eyeing him, walking over to the beam in question, crouching and studying it:: She doesn't trust me worth a damn, never did. I think we both knew it was a game.
Ed> She's clever. I hate her guts, but I gotta admit she's clever. She's lived four hundred years and run the country with nobody ever knowing. You can't do that and be stupid.
Russell> No, I know... There was just still the chance, so... it was worth a shot. Got any scrap lumber handy? >_>
Ed> Yeah, there's some over there. Geoff gave me way more than I needed. ::runs his hand through his hair tiredly::
Russell> ::standing, walking over and grabbing a few planks, bringing them back and drawing arrays on them and the beam with some chalk, replacing the rotted areas and merging the new wood with the beam:: There... that should do it.
Ed> ::small smile:: Thanks, Russell. ::not just for the woodwork there::
Russell> ::small nod:: So what're the plans?
Ed> ... ::sighs:: Right now, we got a pretty good sized group of people. I think Al, Greed and I will go after Dante. He- ::points to Van:: -said he might have a way to find Riza, so I'm thinking I'll put him and Mustang and his lieutenant to finding Riza before anything can be done with her. Normally I wouldn't send any Mustang after her.. she's got enough issues, and Envy used his face to trick her, but... Sloth is probably with Dante. ::frowns:: And Sloth uses water, which is the Colonel's weak point. So sending him on the other team would be sending him to his death.
Russell> ::nods:: What about the fat one?
Ed> ... Shit. Gluttony. ::frustrated sigh; thinking...:: You know what I don't get? ::looks at Russell:: The homunculii have red stones in them, right? Why the fuck doesn't she just transmute one of -them- into a Stone? ::considering that for a way home to Al? not at all!::
Russell> Red Stones aren't complete Philosopher's Stones. I have no idea what kind of power would be needed to transmutate someone's soul into someone else, but wouldn't that take a lot?
Ed> The red stones aren't complete, but there's a lot of them in a homunculus. Never mind that the woman's never made a perfect Stone in her life anyway. And... no. :;shakes his head:: Her soul transference wouldn't take a lot of power. It's a soul binding. I was able to do one at the cost of just an arm. That's the thing though, she doesn't want to have to pay a price at all, even though the price would more than likely be extracted from her old body and no longer anything for her to worry about.
Russell> ... ::frowns, thinking:: Good point. ... might she be up to something else?
Ed> No... I don't think so. She and the old man both used Stones to transfer their souls. Probably is less risky to them is all. And given how vain she is? Of course she's watching her own ass.
Russell> ::nods:: ... you hitting her tomorrow?
Ed> Yeah, or... well, as soon as people show up. ::frowns:: Some people are still ... I dunno where. -_-* I'm getting close to saying fuckit and going myself, but... ::sighs:: I can't take her alone, and I damn well know it. Not with two homunculii to worry about. And anyway, Al would kick my ass for it. Both this one and my own.
Russell> ... She doesn't have a Stone. You should be getting at least a little rest before taking her on instead of doing this.
Ed> ... ::looks at him:: ... sure, if you happen to have an herbal remedy for insomnia. ::rather dry tone there::
Russell> The classic 2x4 to the head's always a good standby. ::smirks::
Ed> ¬_¬ Thanks but no thanks. I'll be walking away with enough bumps and bruises tomorrow.
Russell> Anything I could do to help with that?
Ed> What, tomorrow, or the bumps and bruises I'm expecting? ::wry smirk::
Russell> ::smirks:: Either or both would work. ^_^
Ed> Count's gonna play doctor for us. Any herbal painkillers or antibiotics you know of that you can provide for him would be nice. Otherwise... keep an eye on Fletcher. God only knows how vindictive she might be.
Russell> ::nods:: Understood. I'll think I'm going to keep an eye on Fletcher. I'll come by with some stuff to see if there's anything I need to help with... what're you using for a base?
Ed> Riza's apartment. I want Hughes and Fuery there running the radios, and then helping Count however they can.
Russell> ::nods:: I'll come by there then. ::starting to turn, stops, looks at him:: ... before I forget.. do you know if the Mustang from her world has an eye injury?
Ed> ... yeah, he does, why?
Russell> ... there's a new Mustang in the Nexus. It's sort of him, but I don't know if it's the same one. He's still a Brigadier General, and she was still with him last he saw of her when I asked.
Ed> ... I'll deal with him later. If you see him before I do though, tell him he's not allowed anywhere near this Riza. He tries, I'll give him a matching injury on his other eye.
Russell> ... o_O ::blinks:: Uh... okay... >_>; What'd he do?
Ed> He abandoned her. That's enough. Besides, he's the last person she needs to see right now.
Russell> Uh... o_O ... all right. Well, I'll see you tomorrow. Good luck. Try to get -some- rest, mkay?
Ed> Yeah, I'll try. Thanks, Russell.
Van> ::he's here, he's just not sure who everybody is or all the backstories here, so he's just listening::
Russell> ::nods, heading off::
Ed> ::yeah, almost forgot he was there; kinda staring off in the distance, thinking...::
Van> ::watching him...:: ... What's on your mind?
Ed> ::blinks!; looks over:: ... Oh. Just... ::sighs:: Everything. >_<;;; My mind moves faster than I do. I don't want to face that woman tomorrow. ... and I -really- don't want to deal with it if that's the Roy from mine and Riza's world.
Van> ... Yeah. ::rueful tone:: I kinda know how that first one goes pretty good too. -_-; I don't think any sane person looks forward to fights they know're coming. ... what's up with the other though?
Ed> ::quiet a second- trying to find a believable excuse so he doesn't have to say the real reason:: ... He abandoned her. I can't forgive that, and quite frankly, I don't want to have to deal with someone I used to respect that did something like that. Maybe I just never got over my father doing that to my mother, I dunno. ::okay, more like he got over there, when he found out why, but hasn't gotten over the second abandonment::
Van> ... sounds familiar enough. ... ::eyeing him:: ... ::outside looking in, why would it concern Ed if that's the same Roy if Riza was involved with him?:: ... you care about her, then?
Ed> ::looks up quickly, blinking:: ... ::small shrug:: Yeah, I mean, she took me in, took my mother in. She's a friend, so yeah, I care about her. I don't want to see her hurt. ::and she's the only one that needs me, so without her, where does that leave me?::
Van> ::nods:: You think she'd go back to him?
Ed> ... ::shrugs:: She did once.
Van> ... -_-; Oh. Yeah. ::kind of a 'one of those, then' tone:: Well, it didn't sound like it's him, from the information he gave. ::nods in the direction Russell went::
Ed> No, it didn't. So him I can warn so he doesn't make the same stupid mistake his alternate did. ::eyes Van:: She doesn't see it as abandonment. She's too busy being guilty for nearly killing him by accident. ::caught the "one of those" tone- Riza is normally a smart girl, she really is ;_;::
Van> ... ::shakes his head a little:: Sounds like a hell of a mess you've got there to sort though. ::rueful smile:: I'll help with the Dante thing, but I do believe I'll stay out of the other. I never quite got all of mine sorted out right myself yet.
Ed> ::chuckles:: Can't say that I blame you. I'm not sure -I- want to be part of it, honestly, but... she needs someone right now. ::don't let that supposedly rueful smile fool you, Van- he's happy to be needed::
Van> ::little smile:: it's sounding like she's in good hands, though.
Ed> ::blinks! ... quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his head:: Yeah, here's hoping, huh? Never been a placebo for someone like that.
Van> ::blinks:: A placebo?
Ed> I'm not what she really needs, and I know it. Best I can do is stand around and be someone for her to lean on a little. What she needs is ... well, him. The old him. Thing is, I've seen what happens when someone abandons their loved ones. They keep doing it. So she's not gonna be able to get that.
Van> ... ::little frown:: ... Well. ... If you're sure about doing that, it's your call. ::nods::
Ed> ::quiet a second:: You'd handle it differently?
Van> ... I don't know. ... it just sounds like a good way to get burnt, though. ::yes, speaking on the position Ed's in::
Ed> ::shaky chuckle:: Boy, if there's anything I'm used to... ::leans back against the support beam:: I don't know. I guess I'm being a bit selfish here.
Van> O_o? Huh? ::leaning against another one:: How's that?
Ed> ... ::looks at the ground, really wishing he hadn't said it at all- he's tired and stressed, it kinda slipped out:: ... I can't handle not being needed to take care of someone. Never could. Just... some quirk I developed after Dad left Mom.
Van> ... and you'd like her to stick around to need you.
Ed> ... ::now he's -really- down right ashamed of himself; not answering, nor looking up::
Van> ::quiet for a few moments, thinking:: If she needs you, stay, and hold on. ... But don't hold on too tight. Sometimes there's a time to let go if their fate is somewhere else. ... and I know it's a hell of a lot easier said than done. I've been there.
Ed> ::closes his eyes, but nods faintly- yeah, he knows. he's grown up enough to get that. he's learned to let go. he's just not learned how to cope with it afterwards::
Van> And if all you're being is a placebo, I can't see how that's the slightest bit fair to you either.
Ed> ::okay, that gets a rather bitter laugh outta him:: I figure that's fine. Equivalent exchange and all. I did it to someone else for awhile, after all. ::small shrug:: Sorry, I didn't mean for my troubles to become yours or anything.
Van> If it was too much trouble, I wouldn't have asked. ... I'm certainly not going to tell you what to do. You know everybody involved far better than I. Just be sure you know what you're doing, and... ... well... good luck. ::faint smile::
Ed> ::small smile:: Thanks. ::tilts his head:: What about you? Still having troubles with advisors?
Van> ... heh. -_-; When I get home? Always. -_- I don't wanna marry that woman. o_< about the only thing worse I can think is marrying Princess Eries.
Ed> What exactly is the situation with that, anyway?
Van> Oh... everybody save for a few intelligent people who actually know what's going on think the idea of me marrying somebody who damn near destroyed Fanelia is a nifty idea. Only, see, they don't know it was her 'cause at the time, she was a guy. ::smirks::
Ed> .... she was a guy? ::okay, that makes his eyebrows raise::
Van> Remember that Dornkirk I mentioned? He created this thing called a Fate Alteration Machine. Celena Schezar was one of the many abducted children used in experiments. They did a fate alteration on her, turned her into a psychotic albino male. When the machine was destroyed, she reverted back to Celena. ::how many psychotic albino guys did you meet recently that Van knows, btw?::
Ed> ::remembers -_-:: ... wait, that Dilandau guy? O_o ... ::frowns:: And Fate Alteration? That sounds like brainwashing to me.
Van> You got it. Dilandau's Celena and vice versa. I don't care how well you wash someone's brain, people don't just genderswap like that.
Ed> No... sounds like human transmutation. ::makes a face:: Just the sounds of it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Van> Let's just say Dilandau and I have a very, very long history of passionate mutual hatred and have gone all-out in our efforts to kill each other. He burned the capital city of Fanelia nearly to the ground. Now he's back to being my best friend's sister. Out of respect to him, I'm staying quiet.
Van> But they want me to make that woman queen and give her power of Fanelia? I don't think so. -_-* Nevermind the fact marrying her would require -touching- her.
Ed> ... O_o Most people don't just 'go back' to being someone else. ::thinking...:: How did Dilandau feel about Celena's brother?
Van> Thought he was a womanizing playboy and hated his guts.
Ed> ... and she just went back to being his sister? ::raising an eyebrow- outside looking in, and hi logic, does not compute::
Van> Mmhmm. ::nods:: -_- I don't know what to make of that.
Ed> ... sounds like someone had their mind turned into something against their will, and finally got control back.
Van> ... -_-* It's still her. And how much of her was in him and vice versa? And what's more, if it ever gets found out that the woman formerly known as Dilandau is in a position of power over a kingdom he once nearly destroyed... ::hands clenching:: She's gotten off with the murder of hundreds.
Ed> You can't know how much of it was her without asking, really. But how a person acts can be a big clue. Nobody's that's good of an actor, except maybe Envy. ::shrugs:: It's reminding me of what Dante did to Greed not long ago. She all but wiped his mind. He's a bit of an ass, but a nice guy, overall. Turned into a complete monster because of what she did. Al and some others managed to undo it, and he's back to normal. He also feels pretty bad about what happened.
Van> ... I can't look at her without seeing Dilandau. All things considered, they didn't look dissimilar at all, except for him being bleached out.
Ed> And male, but you wouldn't entirely know from looking at him. >_> ::chuckles:: Look, I'm not trying to say anything one way or another on the marriage thing- that sounds like a royalty thing that I don't know a thing about. But maybe hating her isn't the way to go.
Van> -_-; She's also a pretty insufferable bitch on her own. -_-; Not to mention, she's got plenty reason to hate me too. ... I single-handedly in one battle killed everyone who Dilandau -did- give a damn about.
Ed> I haven't met her myself, so I dunno what she acts like, but I know if someone was holding me responsible for crimes that I had no control over, I'd be pretty pissed off at them.
Van> -_-* ::and the mun starts laughing at him; he can be calm and mature easily enough... until certain buttons get pushed, then it's all back to Mister "I'll anger-manage your face D:" again; at least he's not -talking- but inwardly he's muttering some pretty childish shit XD:: ::No, Ed... for as together and smart as this guy can seem, he's got his own subscription to issues and can be a selfish brat too :D so don't feel left out::
Ed> ... ::seeing he's hit some hot buttons; shrugs:: Hey, outside looking in, is all. I don't know the people involved. I'm just saying that you might not either. Peace is easier to attain when people talk instead of just blindly hate. Anyway, I think I'm gonna see if I can find out what this 'rest' thing that Russell talked about was. ::yeah, it makes him feel a little better. ... he's still pretty damn ashamed of himself though::
Van> -_- All right. Probably a good idea all the way around. -_- I'll see you later.
Ed> ::waves to him as he wanders off- not actually going far; wanna take a guess where he's been sleeping? Yeah, the construction site. no wonder he looked like hell the other day::