➤ 5th Transmutation

[unexculpable]

A. » Action/Locked to notalwystrthful「1652 Albright Lane ☼ Early Morning」

[Ed was actually on his way out, he never stayed at this house for too long. The only reason he came back at all was because he would be droned if he didn't sleep in here once every three days

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[notalwystrthful]

[ As sick as Diana's been lately, she knows that there's always work to be done. And, so, when she's on her way to visit Ed for today, she stops in her tracks and hears screaming. Okay, well, some people have been weirder than usual, but she's used to Mayfield pulling stunts like this again. Though, that scream is definitely unsettling - blood-curdling, uneasy...

Whatever it is, she starts to make a run for the door and barges right in to see Ed. Ed and blood. Blood and... Ed.

For a moment, she's rendered completely immobile and speechless. Never in her thirteen years has she witnessed this amount of gore. Never in hr thirteen years has she seen something this horrible and awful and just... wrong. Her stomach is lurching, feeling like she was definitely going to throw up at the mere sight.

But, her voice and strength returns. She makes her legs move so that she can go over to him and gingerly wraps her arms around him. She doesn't know what is happening and that terrifies her. She likes to know things and this is something she

[unexculpable]

[What was happening at this moment, this memory, was not meant for anyone else to see or witness. Part of it even Al shouldn't have to see. He didn't need to think about what Ed did to get his soul back. But he did. He would always remember. It would be a sin to forget.

His leg was gone and staying on his hands and knees proved to be a balancing act that he couldn't accomplish. Edward falls to the side, clutching the bleeding stump that used to be his leg, sobbing and screaming in agony

[notalwystrthful]

[ Again, Diana finds herself useless in this situation. She wants to help him, dammit. After all, she's a prodigy, so why couldn't she use her brilliant mind to help him out? She desperately racks her mind for an answer, finding everything she can think of to be rendered ineffective. ]

No... no, you don't need to be sorry. Okay? You don't need to be sorry. [ His blood has stained her coat and whatever else she was wearing, yet she didn't seem to mind. He was in agony and she couldn't help him. All she could do is just... sit there. In his blood and try to help him through this.

Though, what did her mother tend to do when she was upset? Ah, right. She threads her fingers through his hair and tries to calm him down. ]

It'll... It'll be over soon, okay? [ There's a pained cough on her end, but she tells herself that she'll be okay. He's the priority here, not her. ]

I'm sorry there's nothing I can do.

[unexculpable]

[He shakes his head, choking and gasping for breath. His arm stopped bleeding, finally and for a minute there's nothing but quiet, his pulse pounding in his ears. Ed opens his eyes, staring vacantly at the ceiling. What now? Was this it? Was this place sick enough to just leave him like this? It wouldn't surprise him, honestly

[notalwystrthful]

[ Diana's grateful for the moment of reprieve since she's not sure just how much more her mind could take. She keeps on trying to console him, her fingers running through his hair, her other hand running up and down his back so that he didn't have to be alone in this suffering. She didn't want him to be alone. That time was over and done with.

She watches when the automail ports come to return with some curious intentions. What was the reason for those to reappear? Well, she figures she'll eventually find out. She almost wants to slump over, but no - she won't do that to him. He's her friend, dammit. It was her turn to take care of him

[unexculpable]

[Ed was conscious enough to hobble over to the couch. He murmured something that sounded like he was trying to protest, but the words never get there. As soon as he's on the couch, his eyes close and Ed is out cold.

He's not sure how long he slept for. Thankfully it was somewhat peaceful only in that the nightmares were broken up by long stretches of nothing. Ed sits up and leans his head back against the cushion. It's strange, he had gotten used to the whole "feeling" thing. He would have to get used to this again.

Ed closed his eyes, taking deep, steady breaths. Was Diana still here? ... She had to be. It didn't seem like she was going to leave him there, but he couldn't blame her if she did.]

I'm sorry, Diana. I'm so sorry.

[notalwystrthful]

[ By the time Ed wakes up, Diana has changed her bloody clothes, threw them in the washer to hopefully get the blood out and changed into a pair of his clothes temporarily. She's been sitting in the living room, only getting up to put a washcloth on his forehead every so often. The blood's mostly cleaned up by now and she's still working on it.

She pokes her head through and waves at him, giving him a slight uneasy smile, but it's sincere all the same. ]

You don't need to be. Mayfield likes to be a sadist. [ She gets up and cricks her neck side to side. ] Do you need anything? Water? More pillows or blankets? Some medicine? A... hug?

[unexculpable]

[He shakes his head slowly, rubbing the back of his neck with his left hand.]

No, it's... I'm fine, thanks though. You've done enough for me as it is.

[notalwystrthful]

[ She goes to sit down on the floor, stifling a cough that's followed by a sniffle. The memories are still fresh in her head, but she doesn't want to have him burden himself any further. She can tell that he blamed himself over ... whatever happened for quite a while. Yet, that time was no longer now that she was here and his friend. And it would take a great deal of effort to make her give up on this.

What she does though is squeeze her hand a bit before taking Ed's hand into her own, rubbing the back of it with her thumb. ]

I'm not angry. I'm not upset. I'm just worried and concerned about you, Ed. How long have you had this weight on your shoulders? How long have you gone about this burden alone?

[unexculpable]

[He stares at his hands, shoulders hunching. The skin under the ports is raw and every time he moves either of his limbs it hurts. Little pinpricks of pain accentuate every movement, but he refuses to let it bother him. He's done this before. He could do it again.]

... A long time.

[notalwystrthful]

I may not know the full story, but... you're not alone, okay? You showed me that before, so now it's time I show you that you're not alone with this.

[ She pauses to let another cough go through before shaking her head. ]

What happened that made you get your prosthetics?

[unexculpable]

[... hold up changing the subject.]

You're sick. You should really be resting right now.

[notalwystrthful]

[ OH HELL NAW. ]

Idiot. You've just went through a traumatic experience. I have a case of the stupid sniffles. Your needs outweigh mine right now.

[ ALL THE LINEFACE. NOW SPILL. ]

[unexculpable]

[He's painfully quiet and he doesn't do anything other than sit there staring at his hands for at least two minutes or so.]

... A few weeks before Halloween I talked to you about something very important. Alchemy's one and only taboo. The one thing you should never, under any circumstances attempt. Do you remember that, Diana?

[notalwystrthful]

Human transmutation. How could I forget?

[unexculpable]

[... and he stays silent. You're a smart kid, he's sure you'll be able to figure it out.]