TEST DRIVE MEME #9 (FOURTH WALL EDITION)

[zhautasmods]

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:

1. 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.
   
   
2. 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.


3. 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

Comments

[waxwings]

When he returned from the shower, the milotic was coiled up contently on the floor, the vulpix and eevee making themselves at home on the couch. All seemingly perfectly happy to get comfortable in the presence of this Ed as if they were home again.

The adult quirked a brow when he sat at the table. "I could have gotten you clean clothes to change into. There's a laundry service here, we get everything taken care of." The perk of volunteering, all your needs were catered to in exchange. Just don't mind the horror bits.

"You're probably sick of stew by now, I could make you a burger or something." He didn't know this kid all that well but he knew himself and stew was enough of a staple for him in the Quarantine to assume it was no different with the version living there.

[milkisgross]

"Don't worry about it." Maybe the dirt and the stink will deter more people that way. If it got unbearable he could just come back here and ask to use it or something.

"I'm not picky," he said as he pulled out the phone from his pocket. He had almost forgotten about it, but it was plugged in and charging up now. "As long as it's not boiled leather boot, I won't complain."

Huh. He didn't remember actually telling that whole story to his counterpart in Riverview. Maybe he should. Whether he laughed or gave him one of his incredulous looks, it was bound to be entertaining somehow.

[waxwings]

Okay, he'll just stop short there because what? "What kind of world do you live in where you have to even consider that an option?" Maybe it was a figure of speech. Please be a figure of speech.

Either way, "Burgers it is." It won't take long to make, at least. Getting a pan, starting up the stove and pulling some things out of the fridge, he paused. "You said you had more questions." Maybe they were all about the milotic so his initial answer kind of covered that he didn't have the information the kid was looking for.

[milkisgross]

"The kind of world where there's a space between reality and the Gate where everything goes after a certain homunculus eats it." He says it as casually as he'd explain anything else. This was a totally normal, not at all astonishing or weird, right?

He keeps his eye on the adult while he's cooking. He had kind of forgotten that this guy hasn't heard of the whole Gluttony thing yet, and the response he had gotten last time had been drastic enough that telling him while he was working around the kitchen might not have been the best of ideas. Oh well.

[waxwings]

"Huh." One of the major differences between the guy he's talking to right now and the one he left behind in the Quarantine? This one is far more familiar with multiverse theory. Don't mind him, continuing to cook as if nothing about that was out of the ordinary. Not even looking up from what he was doing. "What's that got to do with eating a boot?"

This kid was so weird. "How well done do you want this thing?"

[milkisgross]

Ed raised a brow. That was the exact opposite response he had been expecting. Weird, but he could deal with that.

"Well, Al and I got in a fight with Gluttony and Envy. Ling was with us too, but apparently you haven't met him in your world. Short story is he's a friend from Xing. Anyway, Ling, Envy and I got swallowed by Gluttony and we wound up in this creepy dark place. Ling, the bastard, lost the strength to keep going while we were trying to find a way back to reality but there wasn't anything to eat. I transmuted a pot and some water from the sea of blood there and cooked up my boot since leather goods are edible."

Telling a story about how he had to survive in a literal sea of blood did nothing to curb his appetite. "Medium's fine."

[waxwings]

Flatly, "You got eaten by Gluttony." He didn't say how he knew about this space, just that it existed.

That definitely got a reaction though. "How long were you in there you had to resort to boiling blood to eat a shoe?!" If anything he just sounded annoyed, like this story inconvenienced him somehow. He wasn't about to ask how the kid got out, he probably didn't want to know.

[milkisgross]

Did...did nothing phase this guy? That said a lot about Zhautas and Ed didn't like what it implied.

"I don't know! When I said it was dark, there was no sky, no walls to the place, nothing to tell us how much time went by." He put his elbow on the table and frowned. He still had no idea if his attempt to get them all out of there had even worked. In Riverview, he at least had the knowledge that time was frozen for him from when he was taken. He didn't know if that help true here. Al could still be running around without knowing if he was alive or not. "It was when I was trying a way to get us out that I was pulled into the Quarantine. I don't know if it worked or not."

[waxwings]

Very little phased him, and most of what did involved purple tentacles, the kid was lucky this was only a temporary stay and he wouldn't have to deal with those or the person they were attached to.

"Kind of like the Gate itself, then. Only with a sea of blood." Was he following all of this? "Well, from what I know you'll figure it out as soon as you go back so there's no sense dwelling on it, now."

Especially when he wasn't even in the Quarantine, nevermind back home. While they're talking he just continued working, adding some seasoning after flipping the burger as if all of this was a perfectly normal conversation.

[milkisgross]

"Yeah. Envy called it a False Truth."

It had been difficult enough to get used to how the Riverview version of this guy. Now he was doing it all over again because their separate experiences had resulted in such a wide gap between them that he didn't know what to expect anymore. He just grunted to acknowledge the adult's comment. He was right. There was nothing he could do about it right now. He didn't like how effortlessly the subject was brushed aside though.

If the smell was anything to go by, then this double wasn't much worse at cooking than the guy in Riverview. Granted, it wasn't exactly difficult to cook up a burger so long as you were paying attention to the damn thing. "You say you're out of practice when it comes to cooking but it smells good to me."

For now, he'd leave his other question until after he was finished cooking. He honestly didn't know what kind of reaction he was going to get to anything anymore.

[waxwings]

"So, what did you do to get out of there?" Ed grabbed a plate, sliding the burger off onto it and setting it on the table. He was out of practice, they'd barely had kitchens in Nevrione.

"Hopefully it'll taste as good, too. You want a drink or anything to go with it? Hamburger roll, maybe?"

[milkisgross]

"I had the idea that if we went through the real Gate that we'd end up back where we were supposed to be. Homunculi from my world have a Philosopher's Stone as their core, so Envy gave his up for the toll and I transmuted myself."

Ed grabbed the plate and pulled it closer to himself. "Water's fine." He took a bite. It was good.

He continued after he swallowed. "I ended up back at the Truth like I thought I would. Though, this time there was a second Gate across from mine. It was Al's. His body was there." Remembering how thin and weak he looked still gave him chills. The sooner they found a way to get him out of there, the better. "I was pulled back through the Gate like last time, then I ended up in Riverview with you, or not-you waiting for me."

[waxwings]

"Envy... cooperated with you enough to give up - what my guess here, is - his life force?" That sounded fake as shit, even if the Envy in the kid's world didn't have a grudge against him. Mostly because from Ed's understanding of things giving up his core didn't sound like something that could be survived. Feel free to correct him on that subject, he'll just grab a glass of water and set it on the table before standing back against the wall, arms folding across his chest.

"So you went through the False Gate and the saw the Gate there." That's what he heard, he's not going to dwell too heavily on him seeing Al's Gate because they weren't exactly an external force. "That's strange, I never saw Al's body in the Gate." Since he's gone through it enough times to know. There was the one time Al was there, but he wasn't about to bring that topic up again, the kid gave a whole new meaning to loose cannon.

"What do you mean he was waiting for you? Did he know you were coming or something?" That was the weirdest thing out of everything he'd said as far as the adult was concerned.

[milkisgross]

Ok, that was actually a fair point about Envy. He wasn't the charitable type. "Yeah. Ling and I were actually fighting him there for a while, but he stopped when I said I had an idea to get out. I'm not sure exactly how he was able to give up the Stone without dying, but he did." He shrugged. "Our only other option was just waiting around to die in there. Ling and I would have eventually, but Envy would have been trapped there for God knows how long."

He continued to eat his burger while the other Ed worked out what he was saying about the whole thing. He wouldn't say he had passed through the False Truth. He had just opened up the real Gate while he had been inside it, but it was a minor detail. "I wasn't expecting on seeing Al there at all. When we tried to transmute mom, there had just been the one Gate there. Before this whole Gluttony mess, I had theorized that since both Al and I were pulled through the Gate at the same time, that our spirits or something got mixed up, and I guess seeing his Gate next to mine confirmed it."

"He said he had been covering orientation that day for some reason. Neither of us were expecting each other." He another bite and chewed on his burger thoughtfully. He had been pretty chill about seeing a double of himself, but that also wasn't the first world he had been dragged into. "I thought he was Envy at first." Even with the differences in appearance, it seemed like the best assumption to make, considering the circumstances they were in before he showed up in the Quarantine.

[waxwings]

"There's only ever been one Gate for me. Doesn't matter who else is there, there's only one." He'd stood in front of the Gate with both Envy and Al, he'd been inside it with Wrath. It was just the one, every time. He didn't want to dwell on the whole thing about Envy making any sort of sacrifice or the implications of him surviving without the Stone, it wasn't his world and it wouldn't make sense to him no matter who he tried to wrap his mind around it. "How do you know it was Al's Gate? Because his body was there?"

At the last part, the adult grimaced. "If he's doing Orientation, we're either more different than I thought or the place was really hard up for someone to be there." It would have taken some desperation to get him to volunteer for Orientation, he'd hated that at Purg and it wasn't even anything official, making it part of his job? No, thank you. "How many times did he call you an idiot when you called him Envy?" It was a joke mostly, but it's what he'd do.

[milkisgross]

Ed tilted his head in confusion. It seemed like such a simple statement on the surface, but there was a lot to unpack there. So, was this Gate shared between everyone then? How did that work? The bigger question was how the adult knew about this. He knew the guy had to have opened the Gate while trying to transmute mom, again when he had pulled Al's soul into the armor, and at least one other time when he had transmuted himself. It would make sense for him to have seen Alphonse at the Gate during that first transmutation if it was all shared then. "For my world everyone seems to have their own Gate. It only makes sense for that second one to have been Al's since his body was there and we had both been deconstructed when we tried to transmute mom."

He looked genuinely puzzled when the older Ed started talking about the counterpart in Riverview. Ed couldn't imagine any version of himself liking that kind of job and it really didn't seem like he had been enjoying it, but it wasn't as if he had been asked to act as a human weapon for the military. Tedious and boring were hard for him to deal with, but it wasn't on the kind of level where he'd make that kind of face about it. His face fell and he forgot about the whole thing when Envy was brought up. "Hey, I hadn't exactly been in the best of situations when I suddenly found myself in Riverview. It wasn't like I was used to the idea that there were multiple versions of me running around. What else was I supposed to think?!"

[waxwings]

He blinked at the last thing the teen said, "I know that which means he should have too. He still called you an idiot, didn't he?" The adult didn't know that though, not really, when he'd gone through the Gate and wound up in London there had been another version of him there and there was no reason to believe this other Ed wouldn't have experienced something sooner, except that alchemy didn't work the same way and the homunculi were different plus there was talk about that Father guy, presumably meaning no Dante...

Right, they were talking about the Gate, back to that. "We all do, too. At least, according to the old man." He shifted, a hand moving to his chest thoughtfully as he spoke. "He said our own version of the Gate is inside all of us, but that doesn't matter all that much when everyone goes through the same Gate the same way, no matter what. I only saw Al at the Gate once and I can promise you it's nothing like what you're describing here."

[milkisgross]

"Of course he did. He's another version of us." As if the man really had to ask. As different as they were between their worlds and experiences, there were still universal behaviors of Edward Elric.

Ed's eyes narrowed as he tried to wrap his head around the adult's explanation of the Gate. It...didn't make sense. It was like when the guy in Riverview was explaining the red stones to him, how they somehow weren't Philosopher's Stones despite being made the same way with just fewer souls as their makeup. Just accept that he's going to stick with as his explanation and move on. "You saw him there when you transmuted mom, right?"

[waxwings]

His eyebrows rose at that response but he didn't comment, too busy watching the kid try to wrap his head around the explanation he'd gotten from Hohenheim all those years ago. Yeah, it made that much sense to him too, but he'd kind of had more pressing matters to worry about at the time.

"What?" That made absolutely no sense to him, why would the kid think that? Had he seen Al then? "No-" He flinched, remembering the teen's reaction to that whole admission previously and not really wanting to revisit it. He crossed his arms over his chest again, glancing away but keeping the teen in his peripheral vision warily. "It was when he sacrificed himself to bring me back."

[milkisgross]

Oh.

Right.

Ed finished his burger without really tasting it and slid the plate out of the way. That conversation, if you could even call it one considering his outburst, wasn't going to be forgotten any time soon. He just didn't think to connect that to their talk about the Gate at the moment. It was a stark reminder that if he ever ran into the Al from his counterpart's world that the first thing he'd have to do is punch him.

Though, thinking about it again now brought up something that had been troubling him ever since he had arrived in Riverview. Now it was his turn to be careful with his words. "I asked you- I mean the Ed back in Riverview about what had happened to Al. He said that he had been given a chance to go back and he took it. Alone." Even without knowing of the traded sacrifices between the two, it had caused him some concern. "Do you know why they wouldn't have gone back together?"

[waxwings]

The sound of the plate moving caused him to glance up before anything else. However, the topic shift was not only unexpected but also even worse than he had prepared himself to deal with. He exhaled slowly before speaking, softly as if the lack of volume would keep the emotion from coming through.

"Al and I ... didn't really get along." His head lowered, shielding his expression behind his hair. "He expected me to be- someone I wasn't anymore. If things are the same in the universe you came from, it wouldn't make sense to go back together because they didn't actually share a timeline."

[milkisgross]

The very idea of not being able to get along with Al was both alien and deeply upsetting. Sure, they had their disagreements and fights just like any siblings would, but nothing had ever managed to come between them and rip them apart. If anything, everything that had caused problems between them had ended up making their bond stronger once it was ironed out.

"But I thought-" they were from the same world. They had been, maybe. But then he remembered. "From all the world-hopping then. Al hadn't been pulled in to all of them then." He didn't really know anything about the other worlds the other Ed had experienced. He had given some details about one, but it had been so horrific from what it did with Nina that the teenager wasn't about to ask him to talk any more about it.

[waxwings]

"No, we met on the moon." His head tilted some but he kept his gaze lowered, clearing his throat. "We were from different times, I was sixteen when I left and ... the version of me Al left behind would have been eighteen." In the Quarantine, Ed had always viewed it as a future timeline for himself, he'd gained the memories to learn that his universe and Al's were confirmed the same. However, Zhautas put a spin on that whole reality that he hadn't had before. The concept of infinite universe and timelines, the fact that his Al probably never made it out alive after he vanished and the rest were all from a separate but similar timeline. That was the major difference between their outlooks on life, the adult left behind by the teen was confident he'd go home someday and fix things, the one standing in front of him knew it didn't work that way.

"I spent months trying to convince him that he'd be happier if he just went home... I guess he finally listened."

[milkisgross]

"That's what he said in Riverview." Ed could see himself doing the same in that situation, the main difference being Al's insistence that they find a way for them both to go back instead of him leaving alone, even if they were from different timelines.

Edward leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling as he sorted through his thoughts. Now that he thought about it, the Ed he was speaking to now had been surprised to hear that Al had finally left Riverview. He had also mentioned that the transfer to Zhautas had been voluntary, well, to a point since he said he was tricked into it. It still meant that he had been fine with leaving Alphonse behind again and that wasn't sitting well with the teenager. It pissed him off and the fact that he couldn't do anything about it made it worse.

The anger made him restless, so he aggressively got up and swiped the plate from table and tossed it in the sink. The he grabbed everything else that the adult had used to cook with and tossed those in too. He really wanted to slug someone, but the person he felt deserved it the most right now wasn't there. There was also the fact that the damned milotic would likely use it's powers again and turn his emotions off like last time, so he'd take his frustrations out on the grease instead.

[waxwings]

"That they were from different times or- that he tried to talk him into going back?" Without him, that part was important, but he wasn't going to say it out loud.

"Al insisted we would go back together, but that's not how it works. Trying to force it could have really messed things up in that reality, it wasn't a risk I was willing to take even if I wanted to." Which he hadn't, Amestris wasn't a home for him anymore, even if he went back to his own timeline he'd just wind up in Germany. The other Ed had died to get him home, and for what? He didn't want a repeat of that. That's why he'd never been in a rush to find out how to pull it off. There wasn't a whole lot left for him there anymore, ironic considering what his life had become instead, knowing that he'd die here no matter what he did to try to fight it.

He blinked as the teen started aggressively cleaning up, opening his mouth to tell him not to bother before closing it again. He figured they probably had a routine on the moon and if this was part of it - or made him feel better for whatever reason - he wasn't going to stop him.