Array 154 // Video

[bloodseal_soul]

[The feed clicks on with Alphonse inside a dark room, with the camera (and lit screen) shining toward a door with an old lock.]

Ed? Brother!

[Al tries the lock again. It won't budge.]

Oh for- now? Really?

Yes! Really, really! [Ed's voice comes from the other side of the door.]

You could have at least left the light on.

What? And make it easy

Comments

[Video]

[verydistinct]

[Well, actual lock picking isn't his speciality, but he knows at least one other method past simply breaking the door open.]

If you can find a knife or flat head screw drive, and you can get it between the door and frame next to the handle. Use that to push the metal bar over. That or if you do find a flat head and it's small enough, jam it into the lock and turn it.

[Video]

[bloodseal_soul]

That's an option too, but probably against the rules for now.

[Al taps his chin and gives a soft sigh.]

But I don't think I've seen you before. Nice to meet you.

[Video]

[verydistinct]

It didn't sound like it. It just sounded like something about transmuting. First rule is to get around a sibling's rule.

[Nods in greeting.]

Haven't been here long. I think I spoke to your brother once before, though. Name's Kenneth Crane.

[Video]

[bloodseal_soul]

If I knew what lockpicks were supposed to look like, I could transmute those. But we're supposed to learn how to pick locks. Knowing him if I try to do it another way it'll be worse in the end.

[Al beams back at him.]

It's nice to meet you, Mr. Kenneth. I'm Alphonse Elric.

[Video]

[verydistinct]

There's a lot of different kinds, from professional tools to using household items. Knowing what you need requires knowing the kind of lock you're dealing with. Sadly, I can't tell you much past that. I wasn't the picking type.

What brought about this anyway?

[Video]

[bloodseal_soul]

That's true. I guess I have a lot of time to fiddle with it, though.

Ah, Ed and I talked about learning to pick locks a while back. We mentioned challenging each other like this, though I thought we'd have practice first.

I should have known it wouldn't be like that. [He laughs.]

[Video]

[verydistinct]

So it just came up in conversation, huh? Well I guess now you have an alternative if you can't figure it out that way.

What'd he say to trick you into there?

[Video]

[bloodseal_soul]

Exactly. Besides, I know he wouldn't leave me in here if I really couldn't do it.

Ah, we were just bringing down a few things that we moved before the flood.

[Video]

[verydistinct]

And he figured, you'd normally be off-guard when locked in some place, so it was a good chance for a simulation?

[Video]

[bloodseal_soul]

Pretty much.

Our Teacher used to do this sort of thing all the time, actually. But it was much worse.

[Video]

[verydistinct]

Tough teacher. You must've learned a lot.

[Video]

[bloodseal_soul]

Well, when we were still in primary school she left us on a deserted island with just hunting knife for a month. That was her first assignment.

[Video]

[verydistinct]

[Considers this. Do you see that growing look of approval?]

Y'know, in case she ever shows up... She available?

[Video]

[bloodseal_soul]

She's... married. A housewife.

[ALSO TERRIFYING.]

[Video]

[verydistinct]

Ah...

[A shame. Al, let us tell you the story about him hooking up with a former Mossad sniper that shot him. Someday.]

I can respect that. You had a good teacher.