Appointments Post

[truthget]

Feel free to use this post for random threads, backtagging or forwardtagging, whatever. It can be Written, Action, Voice, or just a quick call on the journal system for whatever reason.

When you tag, please put a [Style, Date] in the subject line to start it out, eg.:

[Action, January 1st]

Thanks!

Comments

[Action, November 11th]

[truthget]

[Edward hadn't expected any interruptions for some time - between Hughes' return and the way the girls have been clinging to him, he'd figured that he'd leave them alone for a long while before bothering the newly-returned man of the house. Thus, he's surprised when Hughes ambushes him in the middle of trying to decipher (yet again) the alkahestry book, papers strewn all over the kitchen table, pencil in hand, and a half-eaten cookie in his mouth. Mmrph. Let him swallow.]

Lieutenant Colonel! Uh... not exactly.

[Not unless big plans involve head-meet-desk syndrome as usual.]

[Action, November 11th]

[truthget]

[Edward follows his gaze, then scowls faintly, tapping his pencil against the paper.] Yeah, not like it's getting me anywhere. I shouldn't be surprised that alchemy from Xing makes as little sense as its people. And that's not even accounting for the translation.

[Action, November 11th]

[truthget]

[Edward lifts a brow at that; he'd always gotten the impression that Hughes didn't like Ling before. ...Huh. Must've been Greed, then. Moving on-]

It's called alkahestry; it's primarily used for medicinal purposes. Al and I met one of the Xingese princesses, May, who could attack from a distance and heal wounds in a matter of seconds. That kind of ability would definitely be useful here.

[Action, November 11th]

[truthget]

[That comment earns an instant scowl, though he doesn't look angry at Hughes so much as the situation. He starts gathering up his papers and shuts a couple of the books, lifting his shoulders in a shrug.]

I was sent out during the last draft, at the end of August.

[Action, November 11th]

[truthget]

[Edward doesn't respond, though his expression probably speaks volumes to one with the experiences that Hughes has- he's trying a little too hard to keep it neutral. He'd seen a lot of people die out there, and a lot of people killing, several of whom he considered friends or allies. Unpleasant doesn't even begin to describe the experience.

He hasn't even really spoken with Al about it yet. And he doesn't plan to, either. He'd made his brother worry enough about what had happened that week.]

[Action, November 11th]

[truthget]

[The shift in subject causes Edward to relax a little, setting one book on top of the other and leaning back in his chair. Stupid alkahestry, it's definitely time for a break.]

I wish I could say there's a lot going on. Sometimes I do work with alchemy for the people living here, but commissions aren't that common. Mostly all I've done is research, but the resources here are so damn limited it feels like every inch forward is some kind of big landmark.

[Action, November 11th]

[truthget]

...Actually, yeah. We made more progress in that one year than we had since this whole mess even started. I know how to get Al's body back now- I'm just missing a few things, that's all.

[His voice has more confidence now, though it's tempered with a slight concern; Ling's already told him that they win in the end, and several people have confirmed that Al gets his body back, but... the price. It's a matter of figuring out the price.]

[Action, November 11th]

[truthget]

[Ahaha, right on the mark. The smile vanishes, and Ed drums his automail lightly against the table, joints clanking quietly against the cloth.]

No, it's not. I tried to open the gate here once, to try and get us all home, but... it rebound. We can access alchemy here, but for some reason the path won't open. Unless I can find another way, I can't get Al's body back until we go home.

[And... he might already be running out of time.]