(one) night | teneka & video.

[raketen]

[ Alfons is a bit wide-eyed; he's maskless and the poor lighting casts almost comically dramatic shadows. The picture shakes with his hands, but he still seems resolute. ]

I'm supposed to be dead. I have to be dead. No one lives through something like that. No one--

[ His palm presses against his chest-- the shirt's still blotched with blood,

Comments

video, teneka

[bloodseals]

[He's stayed late at the library tonight -- not much else to do but read, really, and skim through the overly-complicated-piece-of-trash Ed refers to as The Network. He still doesn't like it much, but it's how most people seem to prefer communicating, so he doesn't have much of a choice. The cool night air is comfortable on his skin as he shuffles books from one arm and his device in the other, lazily reading over the entries and listening-watching with a mostly disinterested eye. That is -- until he reaches the most recent, even before the boy speaks (thinks) Ed's heart has already dropped out of him entirely, plunged abruptly into the earth as he freezes in his tracks.

There's no mistaking who that is. No, there's -- no mistaking Alfons at all, even with the shaky quality, but whatever part of Ed felt relief for a blessed second cuts out quick and sudden with the realization of what Alfons is saying (thinking). Dead, he says (thinks), dead, dead -- and there's blood on his shirt, enough to be alarming on its own, but how--?

No. Ed knows. He'd tried not to think about it (Why did his mirror only show "him" with Al and Noah? Where had Alfons gone?) but it makes sense, doesn't it? The blood doesn't look like he'd only coughed, though, and... "no one lives through something like that". What had happened? How is this even possible? Breathe, Ed, think -- but he can't think. There's nothing rational about this. His books slip from his hold, landing thickly in the grass as Ed's shaking hands fumble for the controls on his device, dammit how does he use this stupid thing--?

He doesn't know what he's doing, but he knows that he needs to talk to Alfons right now and this is the best way to do it. The video quality on Ed's end is possibly even shakier, starting blurry on the sky and then falling onto Edward's gaunt and wide-eyed face. He still doesn't know how to use teneka very well, but he can't very well forgo it now, so his voice is a little louder over the connection than desirable.]

Alfons--? Tell me where you are!

teneka & video.

[raketen]

[ The PORTAL clatters to the floor; the screen goes black. There's a moment of fumbling before Alfons appears on the feed again, white as a sheet. It can't be-- but it is. Is it? It can't be! One word creeps along with the chill that runs his spine: failure. What's the sake of dying if he didn't bring Edward to the place where he belongs? What's the point of it? ]

Edward! I'm -- [ Huh, wait. ] I don't know... I guess I woke up here... [ The PORTAL pivots to show the bedroom; Alfons moves to give a few from the window. ] Hmm... wait, let me see if it's unlocked-- [ Click as the door opens; the picture brightens with hallway light, and Alfons blinks to adjust. ] I don't know...

Re: teneka & video.

[bloodseals]

[He nearly panics (you already are panicking Edward, stop it) when the screen goes black, almost dropping the device himself in his momentary terror, but to his immense ease of tension Alfons reappears quickly. Hearing Alfon's voice (thoughts) feels like a dream, really, thought that could be the fact that everything he's hearing sounds as though it's coming from a tunnel's distance away. He needs to clam down, but-- he can't, he needs to find Alfons first, and thankfully even in the dark he recognizes that room. Or, he thinks he does; it looks like one of the empty bedrooms in the flat--?

It must be, it would make sense; the Colonel and Lieutenant showed up there, too. But this is different, isn't it? What if he's someplace different? No -- don't think like that. He'll find Alfons if he has to ransack the entire city for him.]

Stay there! Just stay where you are for now, and I'll come find you!

teneka & video.

[raketen]

I'll be here! [ As if he has anywhere else to go. ] You don't-- you don't have to rush! I think I'm fine!

[ Small comfort, though. He isn't even sure. Alfons puts a light on in the bedroom, takes a seat at the edge of the bed. It's a little too literal (Edward wouldn't mind if he explored the place a bit more, he's sure), but it's difficult to take his mind off of -- well, everything. Why was he here? More importantly, what was Edward doing here? It doesn't add up... unless -- the thought comes with a jolt -- this is Edward's home? Did he pass through the Gate as well? ]

teneka.

[bloodseals]

[ALFONS SORRY TO BE BLUNT BUT HE REALLY DOESN'T CARE. He's panicking way too hard to not rush the fuck over, no matter what Alfon's insistence is. Ed only picks up the books because he nearly trips over them in his haste, shoving them into the satchel he'd picked up last week and tearing down the road towards quickest route to the flat.

At the speed he runs it doesn't take him long at all to get there, and his arrival is definitely audible; a loud slam of the door a few floors down and the sounds of someone racing up the staircase, then another slam as the from door of the flat opens and Edward all but tumbles through it, whipping his head back and forth to gaze around the foyer expectantly -- and dammit, he tries to speak but can't, and only barely remembers his teneka.]

Alfons--!

[raketen]

[ He jumps to his feet at the sound; some paranoid part of his brain jumps to the illogical conclusion that such a violent entrance could only come from the people who brought him here -- but despite the impressive thudding of his heart, he immediately comes to his senses. It has to be Edward (was that his voice? his not-voice?), and with the recognition comes a twinge of fondness-- but also of nervousness. ]

Edward...? [ Tentatively. He squints in the light of the hall again, keeps his distance out of -- perhaps disbelief. It looks like Edward, has to be him, but-- he doesn't know what. A pause, and then he takes a few more steps. ] Can you hear me? [ It's a stupid question, but this out-loud thinking is even stranger when the other person is so close. ]

1/2

[bloodseals]

[Heart stuttering at a frantic pace in his chest, he drops the satchel by the door and steps forward -- but stops in his tracks as soon as he sees the figure standing by the other end of the hall. Edward has definitely looked better; his face is blanched white even under the rosiness of exhaustion having run all the way here and his hair is a mess, ponytail lopsided and strands strewn loosely everywhere, shaking slightly with pants. It's clearly still him, however, despite the completely stunned, and perhaps frightened, expression on his face.]

let's try this one more time

[bloodseals]

[So, he's not just... imagining things. Not that that would be very possible, he definitely couldn't imagine this, he doesn't think, but it's true -- Alfons is here. It's dizzying and unbelievable and maddening but it's true, isn't it--? Hesitant, Ed takes a few steps forward, coming to a stop just short of Alfons, and... he doesn't. Know what to say. He doesn't know what to think.

His eyes zero in on the bright blotch of red on Alfons's shirt, and it shocks him, almost, into reacting -- in a sudden movement his device clatters to the floor and he runs forward, arms reaching to grab Alfons in an impromptu and rather tight embrace. Ed doesn't entirely know why he's done it, all that's running through his mind is that Alfons is alive somehow, and that Ed is seeing him when he honestly never thought he would again. He's forgotten completely about teneka at the moment; even if he did think to communicate he just doesn't have the words for it yet.]

[raketen]

[ He stands stunned for a moment. There Edward was at a distance -- it's him, is it really him? -- and suddenly here he is. It nearly knocks the wind from him, and Alfons blinks, lets the contact register. The hands that travel up Edward's back are skeptical, but once he's certain that he's not dreaming, Alfons reciprocates the embrace with just as much feeling, bows his head into the crook of Edward's neck. ]

I'm sorry... I didn't send you far enough.

[bloodseals]

[It's not long before Ed pulls back from the embrace, shaking his head in response -- why would Alfons feel he has to be apologizing, of all people? And right now? Almost thumping his hand on Alfon's chest in frustration but immediately remembering to not do that in fear of hurting him, he forces his thought-voice not to shake, though his efforts are somewhat wasted as his words are quick and disjointed in his anxiety.]

You idiot, why'd you go and do something dumb like that? You don't think I'd worry?