➤ 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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[ action ]

[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 doesn't know - why can't she know? Dammit! ]

Ed! Ed, it's going to be okay! Just try to hold on, all right?

[ What the hell does she do here? Does she try to get some help or does she just... wait for whatever the hell is happening to be done and over with?

Dammit! ]

[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.

Al's name slips past his lips in strained whimpers and gasps. His brother. Al was gone. Gone, gone, gone and it was his fault. He rolled onto his stomach just in time to see something move in the center of the circle.

"M-mom?"

There was desperation in that tiny voice and that word, that one little word, would be his breaking point. An odd sort of gurgling groan emanated from the circle's center and Ed's eyes widened in horror. Whatever was there it was clear that it wasn't what he was expecting. Something dark and human, but not quite, groaning and gasping and twitching. A thin hand rose from the floor, reaching for Ed. The weight of it's arm was too much for it and it slammed to the ground, fingers extending and curling, like it was asking him to come closer, to help it.

It was human, but distinctly not -- it's face tight and gaunt, it's head lolling backwards like it's neck had snapped.

Ed screamed -- his voice coarse and wavering.

"NO. This wasn't supposed to happen. It wasn't supposed to be like this!"

He chokes back his tears, using his arms to pull himself across the room, leaving a trail of blood behind him.

"Alphonse, no! No, dammit. You won't take him too."

He somehow manages to knock down the suit of armor that had been propped up in the corner. Using his own blood, Ed quickly creates a seal inside of it.

"Give him back! He's my brother! Take my leg. Take my arm! Take my heart, ANYTHING, YOU CAN HAVE IT! Just give him back! He's my little brother, he's all I have left!"

He could barely register that Diana was there at all. The memory of that one naive, misguided, terrifying night kept spinning in his head. He could feel it -- the pain, the hurt, the terror, the helplessness, the hopelessness -- as strong as the day it happened. And that dreadful, awful sinking feeling in his stomach. The knowledge that he was alone. Completely alone. His mother dead, his father as good as dead, and his brother... his brother was just ripped apart right in front of his eyes. There was no one left for him. No one.

Ed grits his teeth and claps his hands, the familiar blue light surrounding him and the armor as he touches the seal. He sobs and gasps, pulling himself towards the wall, struggling to sit up. It was too much. All of it was too much. The black arms are back and they surround him, pulling at his right arm, taking it piece by piece until there's nothing left.

And right now Ed was reliving it. Feeling each muscle and ligament unraveling, his skin dissolving, every cell breaking apart and fading away. Another scream claws mercilessly at his throat, somehow sounding more agonized and blood-curdling than the last and his right arm is gone. And his blood. More of his blood. Seeping and rushing out of him, leaving him dizzy and disoriented and he knew he was losing way too much, knew that he had to stop this. Had to stop the bleeding, but he couldn't move, couldn't do anything but scream and sob and grab pathetically at Diana's sleeve.]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorryI'msorryI'msorry.

[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.

Apologies keep stumbling out of his mouth -- broken and quiet and raw, begging, pleading. Diana didn't need to see this. This was his burden. His sin. Not hers.

His apologies are cut short and his breath hitches painfully in his chest. The familiar weight of his automail ports returns. Ed squeezes his eyes shut, trying to brace himself for what he knew was about to come.

It happens in an instant. One moment of blinding, white hot, burning pain as each and every nerve connects to the automail that has appeared to replace his missing limbs. It sets his body on fire, every muscle tenses and twitches and aches. His eyes are shut, but he can feel the room spinning, see bursts of white behind his eyes. One last strangled scream escapes him once everything connects and then he slumps, completely and utterly defeated, unable to say another word. Unable to do anything but lay down and breathe.

... At least it's over. That much is for certain, but now what?]

[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.

But, no. She won't do that to him. When he slumps over, she takes a moment to breathe - to get some relief. She looks like a mess with his blood on her clothes, on her skin - but she doesn't mind it. With a push of strength, she tries to get him on to the couch and when she's done with that, she goes to make him comfy while she goes to clean up the blood.

Unfortunately, since her stomach's not all that strong yet, she does end up vomiting from the fear, pain, and the amount of emotions she experienced during that time. But, she makes a decent effort to be strong and instead of crying over it, she gets back up on her feet and continues at what she was doing while he rested. ]

[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.]