Eighteenth Dream ♪ [Video]

[dreamz_are_mine]

[The feed starts out with Rhode's singing of a song. The camera tilts to show Negi on the ground, dead, very obviously. No one could survive that spike-like candle driven through his throat. There's a second candle in his chest, but the feed doesn't linger long on it. Instead the camera swings around, with still Rhode's singing in the background,

Comments

[Video] 1/?

[bloodseal_soul]

[... no.

No, no no no no. That can't be real. It has to be a dream. He just talked with him, he was going out to look for something, he'd be right back and he'd be coming in through the door any minute, with a smile and a laugh and "look what I found, Al!"

And he'd hug him close, warm hands, bright eyes, the way he ducked his head when Al patted his hair, the little laugh that made his shoulders move.

"Al-"]

[Video] 2/3

[bloodseal_soul]

[... there was blood, and his eyes were glassy, something in his throat, why wasn't he blinking? Why wasn't he moving, why wasn't --

Nothing of the rest seems to stick. Rhode's words don't really make sense to him. Everything is one high rushing noise.

Doesn't make sense. So quick. He'd just seen him. There was supposed to be a fight. Blood. He was supposed to save him he was supposed to be given a chance to fight to see to protect to win he wasn't supposed to be broken on the ground with-

No, no, he's not. She's holding him, she hurt him, but he's not-]

Negi...?

[Video] 3/3

[bloodseal_soul]

[There's something in Al's eyes, something not quite right, not quite THERE, but he's still functioning, still moving, still... thinking.]

Miss Rhode. ... show him to me.

[Video]

[dreams_are_mine]

[This giggle belongs to an adorable, innocent little girl, not a sociopathic murderer.]

Say please!

[Video]

[bloodseal_soul]

[He is patient. His voice is even gentle, how he'd really talk to a little girl. It's not that bad. It's not.

He'll answer. She's just got him. Even if some part of his mind, far in the back of it, isn't working quite right.]

Please. Show me.

[Video]

[dreams_are_mine]

Of course Al~ &hearts

[She lifts the screen and turns it, crouching by the body and passing the camera in a slow pan of Negi's corpse, starting at the toes, up the legs, to the ravaged and stabbed chest and throat, and ending on his face, with its stricken expression and staring eyes.]

There you go!

[Video]

[bloodseal_soul]

[He stares at him, just stares. Something's not clicking. He's frowning, looking concerned, trying to make sense of it.

Finally, he offers just a tiny smile, tears coming to the edges of his eyes.]

... ah.

[Video]

[dreams_are_mine]

[She watches him with a gentle expression, hey eyes nothing but soft concern.]

Are you okay, Al?

[Video]

[bloodseal_soul]

[He watches her, tired, sad, tears sliding down his face. Something is so off. That's not the correct reaction.]

You won't stop if I ask you to, will you?

[Video]

[dreams_are_mine]

Are you going to ask me to?

[Video]

[bloodseal_soul]

Please, Rhode... stop this.

[Video] 1/2

[dreams_are_mine]

Hmm...

[Video]

[dreams_are_mine]

Maybe later.

[Video]

[bloodseal_soul]

[No amount of tears, pleading, or threats will touch her. Frankly, Al's not sure what he has left.

He reaches up to shut off the feed.]

[Video]

[dreams_are_mine]

[Before he closes the connection, she does comment;]

You could ask Winry why it had to be Negi.

[Video]

[bloodseal_soul]

[His hands freezes, right before he presses, the button, stopping.]