[open & closed prompts]

[alchemyfreak]

who: Edward Elric & Anyone
what: Catch-all for January/February
when: Probably January 15th-February 15th-ish, but honestly whenever works
where: Locations included in prompts below
warnings: None that I can think of, will add as needed


When Val disappeared after going to investigate the portal, Ed has his theories about what that meant. She wouldn't have gone home without saying goodbye, and she wouldn't have left to go anywhere else without telling him, and there was only one way to go through that portal by accident. Whether she left intentionally or not wasn't the issue, the issue was that she had left without notice and that meant that he had to deal with that reality in the here and now.

Which, for Ed, meant needing some time alone to think. He would have followed after her if he thought the portal would lead him to where she went, but he knew it wasn't as easy as that. If the direction of the portal had changed since she disappeared by the time he got to it, there was nothing to gain by going through. Still, he knew the only way he was going to get a break from everyone was by going away for awhile.

So, that's what he did. Packed up, said his goodbyes to everyone as if he was actually leaving and disappeared the only way he could while still trapped on this moon. By disconnecting his device and hiding out beyond the wall. There were a few places he'd stop during his time absent from living within the city limits, if someone really wanted to find him they probably could. Alternately, if someone was the type to wander around outside of the wall they could also bump into him by chance either when he's not hiding out in a building or by exploring the building he happens to be hiding out in.

By the time the monthly holiday had begun Ed had already disappeared, but it wasn't hard to follow along with what was going on in the city. Does this bring me joy? was hardly a concept he wanted to think about at this point, which only made it all the more appropriate that he wasn't around to deal with things when this tradition occurred. Of course, he couldn't stay away forever, there were obligations to take care of for one thing, he just needed time to clear his head and work out what to do moving forward. If there was one thing Ed was a firm believer in, it was doing what had to be done to keep going.

So, after about a week of solitude, one Edward Elric was back on the roster with a new username, lacking the memories of someone that had been there all along.


[Below will be open and closed prompts from planning with other players. If you'd like to throw your character at one of the more open prompts, feel free! Otherwise, wildcard and toss in your own starter/top level and I'll respond to it. Any plotting can be done over plurk at Transmutedself, or via PM if you don't have a plurk! Open to discussing TDM and holiday prompts as well.]

Comments

[alchemyfreak]

Not that it would be the first time Edward Elric was punched by a friend, or that he'd be undeserving of said punch. Nico doesn't realize how skewed his perception of their relationship is, the fact that Ed didn't think for a second that Nico would bother to look for him would probably have been indication enough. The fact that Nico couldn't imagine him doing exactly this, pushing away his problems until he could wrap his head around dealing with them would have showed that as much as Edward doesn't seem to know Nico, Nico also doesn't seem to really know Ed. Sure, Ed made out like he was the one in charge most of the time, but Alphonse was the more stubborn Elric. Which meant that if Ed needed to think things over without his brother interfering - deliberately or otherwise - he had to do it without giving Al the ability to interfere. The only way to do that in a place of such advanced technology was to disappear for awhile, the same way he pushed away all of his problems back home and walked away when his brother wanted to approach things differently than he did.

"I had to," At least in his mind, he had. "I couldn't risk anyone knowing where I was if I'm going to make it look like I'm not here at all. I didn't tell anyone, you, Jason-" He waved a hand before glancing away. "The less people that knew, the less likely anyone else was to find out." Besides, Ed is used to shouldering everything himself, even when others insist he doesn't do that. Even when he talks up how important it is to share the load together. "Keeping a secret like this for me isn't something I'd ask of others, it's my burden to deal with."

[deathkid]

Hearing that Ed didn't tell Jason either does answer a few more of Nico's questions. Ed must've been really needing some alone time if he didn't tell his brother or his good friends. Which makes Nico wonder what has been going on in the blond's life that warranted it. Being wrapped up in his own problems recently has left Nico out of the loop with a lot of things and suddenly he feels guilty for not paying more attention to his friends.

"Things must've been bad if you had to come out here on your own," Nico said, frowning. He's curious of course, but doesn't want to push Ed into explaining himself further if he doesn't want to. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Not even Al. But when are you coming back?"

[alchemyfreak]

Nico wasn't the only one wrapped up in his own life. It might have taken Val leaving for Ed to notice, but he'd certainly been absorbed in his own drama and worries for the last few months, himself. Cisco setting him up on that date, two years of memories he hadn't lived yet, Val and Citrine arriving, getting the building ready to move into, Yuffie leaving, Jason and all of his problems - at least the ones he'd come to Ed with, Alphonse and his feelings. There was a lot going on, a lot that Edward wouldn't normally talk about with anyone and reaching the tipping point was inevitable.

"After Purg and working for the Guard I'm more used to out here than... in there." All the parties, holidays and advanced tech were an alien enough concept for him, eventually the overload was enough to make him need a break. Not the kind of break that working some extra hours could provide him, either. Ed was smart enough to figure anything out given enough time and proper dedication, but he was set in his ways and stubborn. Just as he couldn't repair his own automail or fully understand the mechanics behind the limbs Hohenheim made him there was a lot about this place he didn't understand still. It was comforting, but that wasn't really a word he'd use to describe it. "I'm just more familiar with this, that's all. It gives me time to think."

There's a flicker in his expression at the mention of his brother, guilt-ridden and guarded all at the same time. "I don't know. I need to sort out what I'm doing first. Al's suffering because of me and it's only going to get worse if I don't figure out a way to fix it."