Video

[i_love_squats]

[The Forge clicks on, and have yourself one fine specimen of Zack Fair, stooped over a table, fiddling with something just barely out of reach of the video. He doesn't look at the camera lens, and he doesn't need to; his face carries the same mix of frustrated-amusement at any angle.]I went to the carnival with Val, but didn't learn much. Saw the

Comments

[ voice ]

[lonestray]

...Me?

I'm not affiliated with the patrol.

[a pause, and then muttered] I'm no good for building anyway. I can only destroy things.

[ voice ]

[i_love_squats]

Does it really matter if you are? You should come out anyway, as I'm guessing we can use all the help we can get.

[You can hear him rolling his eyes, even if he doesn't understand it all.] Stop being so hard on yourself. Have you ever tried building something?

[ voice ]

[lonestray]

Seems like there are already plenty of people who have skills in that regard.

...You should ask Edward Elric. Alchemy is more useful than deconstruction for such things.

[ voice ]

[i_love_squats]

Like I said, we can always use one more. Besides, it also means you can get out and mingle, meet some new people maybe, which is always a good thing.

But I'm asking you. Alchemy?

[ voice ]

[lonestray]

I wouldn't be much help, really. No more than any average person. There are people better suited to the task.

[awkward pause is awkward. If it were video, he could likely be seen rubbing at his arm.]

I...I don't-- ...mingle. I...[a sigh]

Why are you asking me anyway?

I know little about it. But basically, it's the science of restructuring matter.

[ voice ]

[i_love_squats]

Shiva, you're harder on yourself than anyone I know. Any little bit will help.

...Unless you don't want to come. And if that's the case, just say so and I'll stop asking you, promise. But I'd like you to come, if you've got the time.

Restructuring matter?

[ voice ] asfxdgh that icon is SO CUTE.

[lonestray]

Mn.

[He doesn't reply to the first part. Zack doesn't know how destructive his arm is, how he's killed--no, outright murdered--people with its power. It's not something he wants to bring up.]

[The second part...that catches him off-guard. He didn't expect to be given an out. He really wants to say "No I don't want to", but...shit. When he puts it like that, that he wants him to come...

After all Zack's done for him it feels wrong to refuse. Finally, he gives a defeated sigh.]

...I-I'll come. What time did you want me to be there?

[A pause.] As far as I understand it, alchemy has three stages--understanding an object's composition, breaking it down, and reforming it as something else. I am capable of the first two.