All grown up...

[fullgrownmetal.livejournal.com]

[Half a step ago, this Edward was walking along the streets of Central, on his way to Gracia's house. When his foot hits the pavement, he is still walking along the streets of Central...but those streets have changed, and something is very wrong.]

[Startled, then alarmed, he looks left and right, turns in a circle, darts down an alley that didn't exist a second ago to search there. He's recognizably Edward Elric, but older, in his mid-twenties at least, with the strong jaw and broad shoulders of a young man. And he's tall. There's no dodging the fact, even as his shoulders hunch and his golden eyes start to flash with fear. Spotting the nearest passerby, he shouts with a note of panicky fury in his voice:]

Where the hell are my kids?!

Comments

[tsukiyabure.livejournal.com]

[Ed just stares, a little taken aback -- what is this shit?] Your-- kids? [oh god why]

[fullgrownmetal.livejournal.com]

[Turning around, Ed gets half the sentence out--]

Yes, my kids, are you deaf or just-

[--and then spots him and chokes on a syllable, falling silent. For a second, he just stares.]

What the hell?

[tsukiyabure.livejournal.com]

They're-- [Pauses to gather his thoughts. Other hims are one thing, but this...] They're probably not here. Or if they are, you'll find 'em later. That's how this place works.

[fullgrownmetal.livejournal.com]

[Ed feels almost physically sick. This is the sort of thing a parent has nightmares about. He grabs the...the boy's arm, not particularly bothering to be gentle.]

"Not here"? What do you mean, "not here"?! They were right there! [He points with his other hand back to the spot on the sidewalk where he had appeared moments ago. Both hands are healthy-looking and quite human.] I was carrying Sara! I...

Have an Emperor Ling.

[kingofthepeople.livejournal.com]

...Edward?

Well, good day, your Majesty. XD

[fullgrownmetal.livejournal.com]

Ling! [Oh, great, now he's relieved and perplexed at the same time.] What are you doing in Amestris?

herp derp mixed icons I need more for him

[kingofthepeople.livejournal.com]

Ah- well, that's a rather funny story actually.

[He points to the sign (http://community.livejournal.com/fmadressingroom/66887.html)]

Well, there aren't a lot of pictures of Emperor Ling...

[fullgrownmetal.livejournal.com]

Th...

[Ed stares at the sign, skimming it. There's something downright unearthly about the way the lettering stands out. Finally, slowly, he turns back to Ling.]

If this is a joke, Ling, I don't care if you are the imperial muckety-muck of Xing--I swear I will make you eat that sign.

I had to choose between two or three different greeds for this sob

[unclegreed.livejournal.com]

-Huh? [He'd recognize that voice a mile away. Blinks. Oh, it was an Ed... but wait, this one wasn't a kid. Maybe it was the one he knew?]

Ed...?

Ahahaha.

[fullgrownmetal.livejournal.com]

[Ed takes one look and groaned. Another Ling. Well, this backed up the kid's story, at least.]

Ling. Hey. I was just talking to you. [He manages a bit of a wry grin--it's better than screaming.]

[unclegreed.livejournal.com]

[............oh. It's been so long since he's been mistaken for Ling, it takes him a while to react. And now that he gets a closer look, this Ed may not be a kid, but he's still a bit too young to be the one he knows.]

Tch. Still the wrong Ed, huh.

It's Greed, you moron.

He's twenty-five or so. XD;

[fullgrownmetal.livejournal.com]

[The realization feels like someone stepped on Ed's grave. His jaw drops.]

Greed? You're...alive? [Is 'alive' the right term? 'You still exist?' just seems too awkward.]

[ambergoldeyes.livejournal.com]

*staaaaaaaaring HEY HOW ARE YOU SO TALL*

Your... what...?

[fullgrownmetal.livejournal.com]

My kids. [Oh, god, not another one. What is this place?]

[Oh, forget it.] A little boy, about this tall, wearing a striped shirt? [He gestures.] And a baby girl in a blue jumper, about eight months old. They're both blonde.

[ambergoldeyes.livejournal.com]

... Haven't seen any kids that young around here. But- *runs a hand through his hair, taking a deep, bracing breath. he's not about to let this drop so quickly, it's too much of a... shock, to say the least*

Your kids???

[fullgrownmetal.livejournal.com]

Yes. My kids.

[He gives the boy a slightly leery book.] You're another me, aren't you. [Maybe this one's got something wrong with him.]

[hunts-bears.livejournal.com]

Edward...?

[Wait... kids? The hell?]

[fullgrownmetal.livejournal.com]

[Oh, what a relief. Somebody sensible.]

Sensei! Have you seen Theo and Sara?


((I'm sure it would be a marvelous, unmitigated disaster. Go right ahead. ♥))

[hunts-bears.livejournal.com]

[Stares at Ed for a long moment. He certainly looks older to her and while she's itching to see if he kept himself in shape, she figures there'll be time for that later.]

I'm afraid I haven't, Edward.

[fullgrownmetal.livejournal.com]

Sh--uh. Sugar.

[Still looking around, he pauses suddenly.] Wait, when did you get here?

[imxnotxshort.livejournal.com]

[Staring. It's not that often he sees an Ed around his own age in this place.

Even less often that another Ed has children.]

You must be new.

No offense! XD; He's just getting cranky now.

[fullgrownmetal.livejournal.com]

Y'know, people keep telling me that, but--

[He turns around, sees him, and barely restrains himself from banging his head into the wall.] Shit, another one. [An exasperated sigh.] And you probably haven't seen them, either, right?

[not-a-tin-can.livejournal.com]

[Stares at the obviously older version of Ed.]

Brother...?

[fullgrownmetal.livejournal.com]

Al! [He knows that voice instantly...but double-takes when he gets a better look at him. This kid is much too young, not to mention the way his hair and eyes aren't quite right...]

[Ed wrinkles his nose, as puzzled as he is pleased to see "his" brother in any form.] Uh...wait. Which Al are you?

[not-a-tin-can.livejournal.com]

Not the female one?

[Isn't exactly sure what Ed's asking about, because this Al doesn't remember those years they spent looking for the stone, he only knows what everyone told him. And he really hasn't run into many versions of himself while here either.]