[ VIDEO ]

[shortcut]

Haah. . . style around here isn't so bad.

[ SOME THROAT CLEARING. the device flicks on to distant spraying water, the familiar chatter of the Square's crowds—before a hand adjusts the camera to focus on a boy sitting at the top of a bench by the fountain.

he looks pretty cranky, boots braced along the seat, and the bench, well. it's still a bench. sort of. ]

Right. Listen up! For the next two hours only, I'm offering a special trade! Answer a few questions for me and I'll upgrade any personal items you've got. No material shifts, but I can adjust the style or the mechanics! Free of all other charges!

This is the Fullmetal Alchemist Edward Elric speaking, all right? And the deal's good for another—one hour and fifty-nine minutes!

Comments

[sixwinged]

What questions?

[shortcut]

Seen any weird-looking people around?

[indecent_butterfly]

Trade? You mean like a deal or bargain?

1/3

[shortcut]

Swap, exchange, transaction—you can use whatever word you want.

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[ . . . ]

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Do you know what those are.

[mortemscintilla]

...People here often answer questions for free, little guy.

[ Dun dun dunnnnnnnn. ]

[shortcut]

[ listen carefully, Hei. do you hear that? that slight tremor in your eardrums?

the unnatural stillness in the air, as if something's drowning out all other noise?

that vibrato descending, in a slow sharp cut, all the way from a range unfit for dog whistles?





look, you're obviously deaf. that is the sound of Ed's soul screaming in rage. ]

Ah? Did you say something to me?

[infernoandhearth]

I'll take you up on that offer. Ask me whatever you'd like.

[shortcut]

They broadcast any reports for big disturbances this afternoon?

[binarysky]

Uh...I don't know if any of my stuff needs upgrading, but you could just ask?

What's an alchemist?

[shortcut]

Fine. First question: how old are you?

[intheblanks]

No material changes? I thought the premise of alchemy was lead into gold.

[shortcut]

You're centuries behind if you think that's true. Got anything worth gold?

video;

[anatural]

[what. the. hell.]

What did you just do?!

video;

[shortcut]

What's it look like?

[perma-video]

[riches]

Wow, that's some amazing workmanship you've got going on there.

[ — and she's sincere, too! Shrugging, the young lady offers an amiable smile. ]

What can I help you with?

[shortcut]

[ FINALLY, A CITIZEN OF GOOD TASTE. ]

I'm looking for a few people. Hear about any disturbances this afternoon?

[whitetwoguns]

I got a question about your uh work. I hope that don't cost nothing.

[shortcut]

Guess I could try not to charge. What?

[hexuality]

Mechanics aren't exactly my thing so no trade necessary—but I'll answer whatever questions I can, if you've still got them.

[shortcut]

Not enough, apparently. How much of the city do you see in one day?

video;

[virginwings]

Whoa! Did you do that to the bench?

[please excuse how close her face is to the device... that is one pretty bench.]

video;

[shortcut]

It's called transmutation!

[pratful]

And just what exactly do you do? [ he doesn't exactly understand what Elric means about material shifts, but if he can custom fit some armor... ]

[shortcut]

Ah? How basic an explanation are you gonna want?

[valentineluke]

You're obviously a recent arrival.

[shortcut]

You're obviously an idiot. Next.

[conjoins]

Fullmetal? [ looking you up and down. ] Where's your armor?

[shortcut]

It's a title, not a true-life description.