[Voice (morning) / Action (evening)]

[truthget]

[Voice - Locked from Al, Winry, Gracia, and Elicia]

This might seem like a weird question, but I need to ask.

A lot of people - kids, even - act like they're fine with death and killing. The draft taught me that much. And around here dying doesn't even seem to matter because you just come back anyway. Is that what makes it- [Not okay, he can't

Comments

[written]

[noprevaricating]

[The camera is covered with a white cloth, through which is visible a little light.]

It's a choice between someone else and a friend, usually. Whatever widow or orphan I'm creating won't feel any less pain than I will if I lose someone, but there is a certain duty to it. There's more at stake than my conscience.

Death isn't possible to describe, I don't think. It's like falling asleep and falling, the entire self Never mind.

[written]

[truthget]

[So, someone else who's died, but kept a mystery... well, he'd expected as much. A broad, prying question like this is bound to make a few people wary.]

Is it too much to try and do both- to save people and spare the enemy? I know it isn't easy, but it's not impossible, either.

[written]

[noprevaricating]

If you can single-handedly rework the way everyone is taught to think, perhaps you can accomplish it. The trouble comes in where we are willing to die to defend our own, and the enemy is willing to die to kill us. At least, that is the case here. When an enemy is as driven as you are, people are going to die. It's a more horrible thing to grasp than many who have killed are willing to admit, but sometimes there isn't any choice.

[written]

[truthget]

I've taken down enemies determined to kill me plenty of times before. My problem is when others don't like what they see and finish them off for me. Just because we've been ordered to kill by the people holding us captive doesn't mean we have to follow those orders no matter what.

[ written | filtered ]

[refinedmaestro]

Many find the existence of death to be uncomfortable and unnerving, though some are use to the idea because it is all they know of. Though it begs the question, to survive or not to survive? It also depends upon the personality of the person doing the killing, if they only did it out of survival instincts or if they found it to be a pleasuring experience.

There are many factors which you must variate in order to understand the human heart and why we as humans act the way we do. As you saw with the way many responded to your question in general, all of them are different and show how different every heart is.

[ written | filtered ]

[truthget]

Humans are almost impossible to predict, I know that much. And I get that everyone's different. That's why I have to ask- the more answers I get, the better understanding I'll have.

[ written | filtered ]

[refinedmaestro]

If you wish for my opinion, for me it depends upon the situation. If you must take another life, then do it. If not, then I see no reason to.

[ written | filtered ]

[truthget]

How do you know when you must, though? Is it just if it's a combat situation, or do you look for an alternative?

[It's not meant to be accusatory, but... he's wondering how many people just go for the kill right off the bat, at this point.]

[ action ]

[truthhides]

[ it's relatively early on in the campfire vigil. al's quiet, watching the fire, careful that the wind doesn't take a loose sheaf of bark and send it anywhere it could cause trouble... if they were home, maybe this ritual would be happier. He'd have his body back and Ed would have his limbs... but at least one mystery has finally been cleared. ]

Do you remember the time I tried to smuggle a little of kittens into the house?

[ action ]

[truthget]

[Edward leans back against a tree, one arm slung against a knee, the other supporting the roasted hotdog he's currently munching. It feels so good to have two working arms again, seriously. He glances over at Al at the mention of the cats, though, and grins slightly.]

Yeah, I remember that. You kept trying to keep me talking about alchemy all night so I wouldn't hear them crying.

[ action ]

[truthhides]

It almost worked, too. If only they hadn't knocked that box over...

[ action ]

[truthget]

And just how were you expecting to feed them all without me noticing?

[ filter ]

[moezuo]

It's not something kids should have to think about.

[ filter ]

[truthget]

It isn't, but that doesn't stop us, does it? Especially when kids are the ones doing the killing.

[ filter ]

[moezuo]

I guess something like war makes them grow up fast.

[ filter ]

[truthget]

Could be. It still feels wrong, though.

[phone]

[myvictorymarch]

Take it from someone that's killed an upwards of 10,000 people:

Taking the life of another person is despicable. It taints one for life, in some way or another. But sometimes, it has to be done. Someone has to be there to do it for the sake of the innocent.

[voice]

[truthget]

[Whoa whoa whoa HOLD THE PHONE]

Ten thousand!?

[voice]

[myvictorymarch]

It's more than that, but the only thing I have a number on is 10,031 identical clones.

[voice]

[truthget]

[.....There are no words. Only a stare. That is a lot of people killed. And that's actually, genuinely terrifying.]