sexyspace | TEST DRIVE MEME #9 (FOURTH WALL EDITION)

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!test drive

TEST DRIVE MEME #9 (FOURTH WALL EDITION)

Introduction

The same siren that had sounded a couple weeks prior to signify the arrival of the portals that ripped through the island fills the air again. While Zenith had seemed to have taken care of these strange space-time anomalies, it appears that they didn't quite contain them all.

"Hello again, volunteers," R.Y.U.O. addresses the public again, thoroughly unimpressed. "It seems we have a second breach to be concerned about. Just as before: mind the edges and you should be fine." He doesn't say much more than that but anyone looking out the nearest window will see what he's referring to.

No matter where volunteers are, the giant triangular portal (approximately 1.75 miles tall and 1 mile wide) that suddenly splits reality off in the jungle faces them. No matter where they walk or what other angles they try to see it from, it faces them. That's only slightly unnerving.

It doesn't take long before the multiversal visitors start to pour through. While current volunteers can't leave, it seems that other people are able to come in through this portal that has converged from multiple access points in the multiverse on this tiny island. Say hello, volunteers, there are quite a few new unexpected faces to greet!

WELCOME TO ZHAUTAS

Professor Quintalian - who the newly displaced might have been informed already is the head of the volunteer program here on Zhautas - is quick to turn this potential PR nightmare into a daydream. People may be spilling through the portal and bringing forth any number of issues without the proper clearance but that's not their fault.

And it isn't Zenith's either, they're quick to say. It's actually because of a deranged space pirate named Hoshiko - here, have a picture for reference! - and you can blame her for your displacement in the multiverse. Please do. Of course, if anyone questions how one person is causing all this trouble Zenith representatives will be quick to say they need to go back to whatever task they had at hand and drop the topic.

Basically, it's not your fault and it's not their fault but you're still here now. So, why not be made to feel at home during your temporary stay? The professor is of the mind that showing these newcomers some good old-fashioned Zenith Corporation hospitality would be more beneficial in the long-term than trying to turn them all away immediately. You can't buy publicity like this! He wouldn't be in charge if he didn't know how to turn things to his corporation's advantage.

TEMPORARY LODGING

It's for this reason that the professor makes the call for the west wing, usually utilized primarily for research, to be turned into temporary lodging for their company. While the makeshift cots laid out aren't as private as the pods of the east wing or bungalows out on the beach, that's alright! It's still a nice, comfortable place to sleep until they figure the best way to get you back home.

They even got everyone who shows up a complementary gift basket. It's filled with cliche "aphrodisiac" foods such as chocolate, strawberries, but thankfully no oysters. They do have those if you're interested, of course, but you'd have to go to the food court for that request. The basket also contains lube (of random, assorted flavors and added effects!) as well as a cheap, plastic bullet vibrator that has the Zenith logo printed on it.

Unfortunately, due to the quality, it's a little finicky. Once you turn it on, you might not be able to turn it off. Don't worry! There's plenty of people around to help. Plenty of people to witness you fumbling with this bouncing, buzzing object and certainly plenty of embarrassment to be had by all. What a good bonding opportunity!

SEXATORIUM

Whatever research that was going on before people started arriving has been suspended for now. One wouldn't know though from how quickly the changed everything around from perhaps what veteran volunteers are used to. One minute there's regular, mundane scribbling onto clipboards and contemplative hums and nods. The next, there's sex on display in no shortage of ways.

The lab spaces have instead been converted to serve a different purpose. The lights are dimmed and tinted a hopefully soothing blue, music plays lightly, and there's the strong scent of sweat and salt permeating the place. The west wing has, for now, been converted into a sexatorium to showcase Zenith's finest attempts at curing this disease and enticing fresh faces to join their cause.

Volunteers and newcomers alike are welcome to peruse this section of the facility until everything gets sorted. Whether it be to watch or demonstrate themselves, Zenith staff is encouraging everyone to take part. They might be a little overly encouraging, honestly. It probably isn't surprising they're under quite a bit of pressure these days from HQ. Show all the multiversal visitors a good time the Zenith way, volunteers!

The glass walls of the research sector have become an exhibitionists' dream. Or perhaps a voyeur's, depending on perspective! Maybe you're taking time to walk through or scurrying to the other side and averting your eyes. If anyone was looking for the head of the program, they can find him here. Of course they can. If you're not into tentacles, that's your loss (according to him), but he's more than happy to talk about the program as well!

They also have plenty of other "experiments" that they'll be running that anyone is free to participate in. They are, but not limited to:

Sex Toy Demonstrations - Ever wondered what state of the art sexual technology is like? Check it out for yourself! If you want it, they likely have it. Not to worry if you don't exactly want to have everything on display, there are rooms that are more private with a black-out option on the glass. It can be toggled on and off or opacity may be changed and filters applied for those who might want the thrill of potentially being seen but not entirely.

Natural Aphrodisiacs - Stepping into one of these rooms will be like taking a step outside. They're full to the brim with plants both familiar and alien as a taste of the larger gardens that Zenith touts. Of note are the coitendrils; they're a pretty touchy-feely species! It's a plant that thrives in warm conditions and grows at an incredibly fast rate to seek out these cozy spots. As it turns out, your body warmth is the highest temperature around and exactly what it's looking for.
Strip Trivia - How much do you know about sex? Maybe less than you think! Especially when you start throwing xenobiology into the mix. These rooms are staged like a game show (that outsiders can also view, if you so choose!) and with each wrong answer, you'll find yourself losing a piece of clothing. It could be as minor as a sock, your bracelet, or something as obvious as your entire shirt. Don't worry, your clothes are held in a containment unit just outside the room and it's all in good fun!
Cultural Exchange - It's no secret that many of the cultures and species on Zhautas are sex-positive. Most recently, volunteers visited the country of Nevrione whose specialty is leather BDSM gear with amazing hand craftsmanship. While there don't appear to be any natives to that country (which people are free to find suspicious) there is a sampling of what they have to offer for use. Also, just look at those cute feathers decorating some of the gear... What a nice touch!

AROUND THE FACILITY

The Gym
There is now a large gym after frequent volunteer requests for one. They've dedicated a lot more room recently to get a good work-out in. One of the best ways to relieve stress is exercise! Not that volunteers have any particular reason to be stressed. Everything is perfectly fine. It has a plethora of machines now rather than just a handful. In fact, it even features a rock wall, pool, and track now to suit almost every need imaginable.

A couple of the machines have an emphasis on vibrations. Not to worry, however, as there are plenty more options available that they're easily avoidable.

If the gym pool isn't your speed, you're always welcome to go for a nice swim out at the beach. The local mermaids have since returned back to their home waters, so there's no immediate threat to your well-being. At least, not anything obvious. Let them know if you find anything!
The Holo-Deck
The holo-deck is now up and fully operational. It's the size of a small gymnasium and quite sturdy! Don't worry if you do break anything, they'll fix it in a jiffy! They like to see the limits of their technology tested, after all.

The holo-deck can simulate basically anything your mind can come up with... if you have an implant. So, better make friends with someone who does if you want to experience this feature! Its main function is a relaxation mode that projects soothing landscapes and scenery. They look, smell, and sound so real you almost wouldn't believe that you aren't hiking through the mountains. And despite its limited size, the holo-deck does manipulate perception to make the space seem a lot larger than it really is.

Additionally, it has a combat mode to help keep the senses sharp of volunteers who might be more battle-inclined. They don't want you to lose your edge, after all, and especially not with Hoshiko still at large with no idea when she'll strike next. It's better to be prepared and it also gives the more restless volunteers a good way to work out all that excess energy.
Arcade
Attached to the holo-deck, there's another large room. This one is dimly lit and comes with the archaic colors and sounds that belong to a retro arcade. While the holo-deck can simulate games, there's nothing quite like the feeling of pinball beneath your fingers. Or maybe you just want to whack some moles in order to vent your frustration.

While you can win tickets here, they can't be exchanged for anything but minor trinkets. Most of the prizes to be gathered are sexual in nature (because of course, they are) like boxes of condoms or fancy flavored lubes. There's also the standard plush toys and inflatable contraptions.
Food Court & Vending Machines
This is a pristine, updated section of the facility that serves only the finest of meals thanks to the new cyborg chef in charge. He's a friendly older guy who uses his mechanical enhancements to make food faster than you can blink and, of course, it tastes incredible to boot.

Additionally, the vending area has been expanded and the machines have been fixed to no longer shoot out drinks at supersonic speeds. Of course, they still can if you so wish. Some people seemed to have fun making a game out of it so the feature is an option but only if someone selects it from the menu.

The Beach
The bungalows for more permanent residents of Zhautas are lined up along the island's south shore. It's only a short walk from the main facility, no more than five or ten minutes. If you'd rather stay out here instead of using the temporary lodging, that's also an option! They have tents available for use. Don't mind the way you may feel -- no, will feel more inclined to snuggle up - or more - with someone. That's just a standard 'light aphro' feature added to help prompt new volunteers to ease into the atmosphere of the facility.

At night, the beach lights up in beautiful blue luminescence where sand meets sea. Unfamiliar stars and constellations dot the sky as far as the eye can see. It's really rather peaceful. Well, it is if you ignore the giant foreboding portal off in the distance.

The Lounge
This is a begrudingly new addition to the main Zenith research facility, volunteers may have noticed supplies being gathered over the last week or heard whispers of the activity before the building popped up seemingly overnight near the outskirts of the jungle. While approved by the head of the program, it certainly doesn't look like anything that Zenith had a hand in constructing. (They didn't.) It sticks out from the sleek, smooth chrome surfaces by seemingly pulling together more natural elements reminiscent of the buildings in Nevrione, built from mostly wood with a stone foundation. The furniture inside is also crafted from wood, leather, and so on to create a... unique atmosphere full of tables, benches, a bar and stools. In fact, some of the decor seems to be decorated and reinforced with dragon scales.

While alcohol is served here, that's only if someone brings something that can be converted into alcohol via alchemy by resident volunteer Edward Elric. The lounge is advertised as being a place to hang out and get a break from the more modern and high tech setting that the facility has to offer, it is requested that sex does not happen within these walls.

While it touts a calm, unassuming front, with entertainment available such as darts, a pool table, card games and other typical bar games, it's quickly becoming an escape from Zenith's prying eyes and ever alert ears. This might be the place to go if you want to speak a little more freely about your suspicions regarding Zenith.

For volunteers that offer to help with construction or around the lounge once it's built - keeping order among others, cleaning, gathering supplies or various other tasks around the building - drinks will be free (unless another agreement is arranged) as means of payment for their time.

(For any questions about the lounge, please contact Remedy. Thanks for this idea goes to Amy, as it was Garrett's brainchild.)

THE UNDERBELLY

For as much as Zenith is pulling out all the stops, there's no denying that there is a faint sense of unrest teeming beneath the surface. While some veteran volunteers are friendly, there is still an undeniable undercurrent of dissatisfaction that Zenith can't quite completely overshadow. For all the fanfare and attentiveness of the staff, it probably won't be long before you run into at least a few people who aren't exactly shy about their dislike of the corporation.

Things that one might overhear and want to investigate are as follows:

Out in the jungle at night, you might have noticed- No, not the portal, everyone's noticed that. There are red eyes that light up the jungle at night. While they aren't exactly menacing, they are extremely unnerving. Ask anyone and they'll tell you those are demons and they're a product of Professor Quintalian's "personal research" apparently approved by Zenith. While they aren't actively aggressive, trying to infringe on their territory is ill-advised.

Being demon-touched is a terrible thing to experience. They're formless, tarry parasitic creatures that try to consume someone. There's even apparently a chance that you might turn into one. Being demon-touched comes with a host of negative side effects such as visual and auditory hallucinations, a desire to be "complete," fever, and more. And unfortunately for you, the process to expel any demon essence from the body is just as terrible.

Unfortunately, demons aren't the only concern you'll have if you traverse the jungle. This tiny island hosts a range of creatures both docile and deadly. It also seems like with the portal opening, even more are making their way and finding a space here at the Zenith Research Facility.
Despite initially volunteering, people's requests to leave are met with vague excuses as to why it isn't possible immediately. But then the professor will turn around and say Zenith sent someone home overnight without a word to anyone. While this appears to be highly suspicious, none of the staff seem to want to expound upon how Zenith operates with regards to terminating volunteer participation and, of course, Quintalian is nowhere to be found for any real serious discussion. Call him though! He'll be glad to talk to you over dinner and a nice bottle of wine.

Maybe talk to a resident volunteer about this since it should be worrying to someone who might want to sign-up.

Despite the way that the helperbot R.O.S.I.E. is described to watch the facility at all times, she's known to get distracted or glitch out from time to time. And with her trying to entertain all these new guests where she can as well as Zenith re-routing efforts to the sexatorium, there's a distinct lack of physical security present. Huh.

Recently, there's been a lot of thumping and bumping up in the ventilation shafts throughout the main facility. If you're foolhardy enough to find the cause, you'll actually be met with one of the resident defensive AIs that goes by the name R.Y.U.O. He's glad you're here, actually. Things were starting to get boring. If you wander too far through the vents into a restricted area (since the barriers in place won't stop those without an implant!), he'll be quick to throw something else to deter your exploration.

This might electric shocks, extreme heat, of even the classic of a swarm of spiders. It's nothing personal, of course, he just has a job to make sure people trying to snoop don't get too far.

EXTRA NOTES

Welcome to the Zhautas fourth wall event! We've added some extra links down below that might be helpful for newcomers.
As a reminder, the timeline is:

Fourth wall begins on Fromb 24th (March 24th).
The portal will close and the event will end on Fromb 39th (April 8th).
The arrival ship will land as scheduled on Fromb 40th (April 9th).
The intro log including this and theft of the arrival ship will be on Fromb 41st (April 10th).
The next OOC Event Announcement for April's event will be on April 15th.

In the case of an unfortunate run-in with R.Y.U.O.'s defense of the air vents, established volunteers, let us know here!
If you have any extra questions about anything in the game, please direct them to the FAQ!
If you have in character questions, those can be directed to R.O.S.I.E. here!

NAVIGATION ♦ FAQ ♦ TAKEN ♦ RESERVES ♦ APPLICATIONS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The teenager's head snapped up. He had expected to hear a repeat of 'This isn't your problem,' or 'You don't know what you're dealing with.' Instead, he got a compromise of all things. They both knew that it was very unlikely to change the outcome, but Ed could appreciate the effort all the same.

"Yeah." The surprise was still hanging on his face. For two Edward Elrics, that situation had been resolved (at least for now) very smoothly. Not only had they agreed at the end, but neither of them had raised their voice since the bar stool had been kicked.

Thankfully, something in his subconscious or something reminded him of the other subject that had to be discussed, so he wasn't floundering there for too long. It was somehow and even more difficult subject to tackle for the teenager though, and he was determined to keep it from going to the places he didn't want it to go. "Is there anyone else from either of our worlds?" A beat. "That you know about?"

It still wasn't his problem, but there was a difference between letting him get involved by brainstorming and letting him get involved physically. Especially when he was more than a little certain that any effort the kid put into it would be wasted. It would keep him busy and maybe make him feel like he was doing something though, it would also keep him off the adult's back in the meantime.

If, by some miracle, he did come across a solution? Even better, but Ed didn't get this far without being cynical and jaded so he wasn't going to hold his breath on that one.

The question seemed to come out of left field and his eyebrows rose curiously. "Here? Not that I'm aware of, Greed was here but he left a while ago." He'd used the term 'left' loosely, but the kid didn't need to hear about that either, so long as he wasn't stuck here permanently like the rest of them. "Why?"

"Why? Oh, I don't know. Probably so I have less of a chance of running into another situation like I did with Sloth!" With that portal in the sky and the multitude of people pouring out, chances are that there were already more people from either of their worlds running around lost that neither of them knew about yet, but if either of them knew of anyone else, it was probably in both of their best interests to let the other know.

Now that the heavier topic had been dealt with, Ed leaned down and picked up that bar stool, sitting it upright again and taking a seat on it. "I don't know about you, but there's a few people I know that I'd like to know are around before I bump into them if I can." A few people meaning pretty much anyone and everyone Ed's ever met.

"You think if I knew I wouldn't have told you already?" Really, just going to ignore the question of when he'd think to bring that up, not important. More important was pretending he could be entirely casual about all of this for however long it took them to fix the damn portal and get the kid out of here.

Besides, the teen lived with him, by now he had to know 'ignore it until I don't have to deal with it anymore' was this guy's way of life. "I haven't seen anyone but Greed since leaving the Quarantine."

Edited 2019-03-27 22:39 (UTC)

"Not with what we were just talking about!" The teenager could certainly understand forgetting about some important details when talking about a subject that made you feel like you were putting your emotions through a wood chipper. That apparently wasn't the case with his counterpart here! He turned his attention to the milotic for a moment, giving her a look that said 'how do you stand this guy' as if he were any better.

He leaned forward to rest his elbow on the counter and hold his head in his hand. There was just one more question he felt like he had to ask. "Are there any other places to stay around here that isn't that facility?" He absolutely wasn't going to set foot back there if he didn't have to. He'd step into the jungle for some raw material to make himself a little hut first.

Edited (I made silly assumptions.) 2019-03-27 23:33 (UTC)

If she could give a deadpan look back, she definitely would, she's had to live with both of them.

"Sure, there are plenty of places." The response is dry, sardonic really. "The tents, you don't want to sleep there, either. The jungle, I've done it so you'd probably be fine." He did the month on the island, right?

"Those of us actually stuck here get our own places." He motioned in the direction of the bungalows, even though it would be impossible to see them from where they were. "We all have to share though, my roommate doesn't usually like it when I bring home strays." That last part was mostly a joke, but it was true enough.

"Unless you want to sleep on my bedroom floor. There's also the common rooms, but those are still inside the facility... It really depends how picky you are."

The jungle was going to be Ed's back-up. It would be just like his time on the island, minus Al and Mason, and he would be ecstatic if he didn't bump into either of them here. "Jungle it is then."

He frowned. "What makes me able to leave while you can't?" The question tumbled from his mouth before he could stop himself. He quickly added in a bit of a fluster, "I don't know if I want to know the answer to that." He was putting his trust in you, older Ed. If you don't think he'd want to know, please don't tell him.

"Watch out for the wildlife, it's nothing you've ever seen before. Oh, and bring food because you don't want to risk trying to eat that stuff either. There's plenty of canned goods in the food court." It wasn't all bad, Ed had hunted and eaten what he killed while staying out there. The difference was if he died the implant notified Zenith and they'd retrieve his body and revive him so none of that really mattered, did it?

Someone without a chip wasn't likely to be so 'lucky'.

He didn't know what was worse, the question or the quick realization that the teen had made a mistake. Either way, he can't not answer when the kid was obviously supplying his own answer and he didn't know what exactly it was that was going on inside his mind.

"You got pulled in by accident through some portal they have no control over. They tricked me into volunteering. Apparently, they're really good at it."

The warning about the wildlife was a bit concerning. It was a jungle, so there were bound to be some poisonous snakes and large predators. Edward wasn't too worried about it though. If the other Ed could deal with it, so could he.

He frowned. It was good to know how they dragged people into this place, so he definitely wouldn't be agreeing to any propositions given to him here. He didn't like that people were being held here against their will though. "There's got to be some way to break out of here." He'll put down 'find a way to break out' on his to-do list, right under 'figure out how to incapacitate water.'

Edited (typo) 2019-03-28 21:04 (UTC)

"You said you're from Riverview, right?" He had to know a little bit about technology to survive there. "I don't know how much you have figured out but they keep track of us. They put something in your body when you volunteer, trying to remove it is fatal. There's no getting out of it, no one I know that's left would have gone willingly."

It was a little disturbing to actually find it touching the kid was concerned, he didn't know him from a hole in the wall, once again - it wasn't his problem.

"The only favor you can do me is telling that idiot, next time you see him, not to fall for this crap." With everything he'd been through here, he didn't really think he'd function in normal society again anyway. This wasn't Purg, it wasn't going to be so easy to recover from.

Ed's frown just got bigger at that. To him, it seemed like the adult had resigned himself to his fate here and that didn't sit well with him. However, he had noticed how ragged he looked and wasn't about to bitch at him about it when he had no idea how he had gotten to that state. Complaining about it would only make them both mad and likely end up with Ed learning some details he'd be happier to be ignorant about.

That didn't mean that he wasn't going to try to come up with something to help the guy. His eyes trailed away from the adult as he pondered whether or not there would be a way for him to learn more about these implants without drawing unwanted attention to himself. It most likely meant having to go back into that hellhole of a facility though, if only to check if there was a place he could read up on the tech of the place.

"I'll pass on the message," he reassured the older Ed.

Edward grew quiet. Everything he had wanted to say was said and he had to figure out what to do with himself first. Sloth was the top priority. The good news is that there was a beach, which meant more than enough water to mess around with using alchemy to see if he can come up with anything.

Of course he had, part of how he looked was that resignation. It was the same resignation he felt dealing with Quin, because there was never getting away from him without losing, no matter the interaction. That's why he avoided the bastard as much as possible.

There was the little detail that not having the implant did put the new arrivals at an advantage, and their being nearly identical meant it would be easy enough to play decoy. Ed wouldn't ask the kid though, because if something did happen it would be so much easier for Zenith to just make him disappear.

In the quiet as the younger Ed contemplated his next move, the adult quirked a brow. He wasn't really sure what to make of that response, but it wasn't how he'd expected things to go.

"I take it you won't have any trouble finding him, then." He'd kind of expected they bumped into each other and went their separate ways. It wasn't really hard to track someone down in Riverview but it was a whole city.

"I better not. I'm staying at his place." It made perfect sense that the Edward stuck here wouldn't think they would be roommates since it had been an unexpected arrangement for both of them. He glanced at the milotic again. "Were you taken from Riverview before or after you had collected the zoo?" He hadn't seen them yet, but he had assumed that the other animals were being kept somewhere else. He didn't know that they had also come through the portal and were going to be sent back where they had been taken from. He was a little surprised that the lodge wasn't overrun with cats though.

"You're what-?" It definitely made no sense, it wasn't as if the kid seemed antagonistic towards him, things felt weird from the start because of how comfortable he'd been talking to him in the first place, but living together was more than a step farther than he could have predicted.

"The... zoo?" What was this kid on about?

It was the teenager's turn to raise a brow. Yeah, it was unexpected, but he didn't find it that weird. "What, did you think we were gonna kill each other or something?" 'Kill' being hyperbolic of course. "Sometimes I wanna punch the guy, but he probably wants to deck me too. I'd rather stay with him than Mustang." The commons were obviously a choice, as well as getting his own place, but he was convinced that someone needed to keep an eye on the guy with how lonely he seemed.

"The cats. I know the pokemon are from somewhere else, but I thought you picked up the cats in Riverview." They seemed to gravitate towards him more than their actual caretaker for some reason. It was usually just a minor inconvenience, but since they were cats there were still times where he got frustrated with them. "I'm kind of surprised this place isn't crawling with them."

"You say that like those are your only two options." There was a lot to unpack there. More than anything he was surprised the kid would agree to it, but he had to laugh at the thought that of course, the version in Riverview would have. "I'm surprised there's even space there with everyone we had coming and going..."

The cats? If he knew about the pokemon that should be easy enough to explain, hopefully. "The cats are from the same place as her." His head tilted in indication of the milotic, "The only ones that came from Riverview were the Eevee and Vulpix, she was a birthday gift for Al and ... he just wouldn't take the hint." Ed hadn't wanted another pokemon, but it was impossible to shake the thing, and then his brother went and named it. "We're not allowed pets here or I would have taken them with me." The pokemon, at least.

Hold on. "Wait, Mustang's there? Since when?!" As if the kid had all the answers. He didn't even really know when the kid was from or what mind frame his counterpart might be in at that point.

Ed fidgeted a bit when he was called out on his living situation, but then the adult had gone on to make that comment about all the other people he thought were still there and it saved him some trouble. "Oh, there's plenty of space. Everyone else who was living there was gone by the time I showed up." Ed was pretty sure that was all he needed to say to justify his decision to stay to the adult. He had been that Ed at one point, so he should know exactly what that would do to his mental state.

"Yeah, I was told it was Al that had come up with the name for damn thing." He smirked, wondering what the Al he knew would think of it. He'd probably think it was just as silly but roll with it anyway. "He gave me Al's room to stay in." He shrugs. "I don't know why Al would have his own room though." He hadn't been there too long, and there had been other things that came up that seemed more pressing at the time.

"Yeah, Mustang's there." That was more or less his reaction to that news when he was there. "He got there before I did. He's from the same world I am, if that's any consolation."

He blinked at how dismissively the teen mentioned all the space. Sure, the house was large enough but most of the rooms were occupied, so unless he was sleeping on the couch- or everyone had left. The way he froze at that revelation was probably more than enough evidence he knew damn well what that must have done to the other Ed's mental state.

The adult didn't respond when he mentioned Al naming Roy, taking a steadying breath at all of this news coming at once. If there was any doubt in the teen's mind that this was the same person he'd left behind in the Quarantine, the way he abruptly closed off at that point would have been plenty of indication. He swallowed, not looking at the kid as he spoke again. "Al's gone?"

He'd been trying to get him to leave for six damn months, and his brother refused to leave him behind. The idea that he'd left without Ed at some point in this other timeline was a little too much for him to process at the moment. If he had any idea how depressed the other guy was, he had to imagine that contributed to it. The part about Mustang might as well have gone unheard for all he was capable of registering beyond everyone being gone, including Alphonse.

Before now, Edward had felt like he had been speaking to yet another version of himself. The guy he had been talking to up until this point had been easier to get answers from and didn't seem to react as strongly as the one he had met in Riverview.

Now there was no doubt that this was the same person.

"Yeah," he let out quietly. Ed didn't know who had been there at what times. All he knew was that the place was more or less empty when he had arrived. He gave absolutely no thought to who might have been still been there when the guy he was talking to now had been dragged into Zhautas and he felt like an idiot for not realizing it until it was too late. "I'm sorry." For being a moron and for the fact that he lost his brother. Again.

He looked away, giving the poor guy all the time he needed to compose himself.

After a moment he let a breath that was nearly a laugh, responding softly. "He was pretty unhappy there, so that's probably for the best." That didn't mean there wasn't a boatload of guilt involved, and he knew the guy this kid lived with must still tear himself up over it.

Then the rest of what he'd been told sunk in and he studied the kid for a minute before speaking again, "Why wouldn't Al have his own room?"

Ed looked back over once he heard the adult speak again. Ed was sure he didn't need to say any more about his reasons for staying. He got it.

Ed raised a brow. He knew full well that he had also bound Al's soul to a suit of armor. "Because he doesn't need one." What use was a bedroom when you were physically incapable of sleeping?

He didn't really get it, mostly because he would think that the version of him in Riverview wouldn't want someone sticking around out of sympathy, so that actually being the reason absolutely would not cross his mind.

Because he doesn't need one. Ed looked at the milotic just to have something to avert his gaze to while trying to process that response. The idea that this kid couldn't piece together what Al having a room meant was an interesting pill to swallow.

Okay, well he's just going to go for it.

"Al was human in Riverview."

Of course he's human you dolt-

A beat as it sunk in.

"Al had his body?" Even after saying it aloud he had trouble picturing it. He hopped of the stool and it wobbled from how quickly he had moved, but didn't fall over. "How?! How'd you do it?!" He couldn't contain himself. The last he had seen of Alphonse before he was sucked into Riverview was his atrophied body stuck at the Gate. His mind was racing. He still couldn't get past the problem of the toll, but the older Ed had figured out something.

"Yeah-" The way the teen said it made him cringe internally, of course, Al was always human by their standards but spend enough time on enough alien planets where human isn't necessarily the default and the word starts to take on new meaning. Besides, trying to explain the situation in a number of instances had gotten so complicated when Ed hadn't wanted to be so candid about that transmutation in the first place.

He took a step back when the kid jumped off the stool, hands lifting defensively as it sunk in how big of a mistake he'd just made. "You live with the guy, haven't you talked about this?" He didn't want to be the one to tell him, not when the teen was going back to make the Ed in the Quarantine deal with that fallout.

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