That cocky, tempermental, brat of a boy -

I'm doing this with a heavy heart, because I've tried so hard to hold onto Ed and this community for as long as I could. I can't believe I'm typing this or saying what I am, but most of you probably saw this coming months ago. It's not fair to the players or characters of this game with how inactive Edward is. I've tried several times to bring him back, but I don't think I ever really was able to make a full recovery. It's obvious that my priorities have shifted and that real life has taken the top right now. As much as it kills me to admit this - I just don't have the time to dedicate to roleplay that I used to.

I really am at a loss with what to say, but I will try and end this as positively as I can. Edward had an amazing journey here - I've been playing at AD for well over a year - and I can honestly say that I'll cherish all of the wonderful, crazy, hilarious, sad, and shocking roleplay moments for later years to come. Thank you for allowing me to experience those awesome memories, AD, and thank you to everyone with whom Edward interacted with. You guys are what make roleplay so special. FMA Cast, you guys are incredible. Thank you for everything.

While biding my farewell, I also bid my apology, and hope that one day soon I will be able to get reacquainted with roleplaying and pass by here again. Until then -

friend remove braided_genius with the Admin Console or hover click.

Re.

[Edward's PCD video flickers on suddenly and reveals... grass. A whole lot of it. The video feed isn't obscured by it, but there's definitely a lot of grass going on there. There's some shuffling off-screen, a faint curse, and then more shuffling.]

...Where the hell is...

[Definitely Edward's voice trailing off right there. The sound of his boots moving across the lawn are all that can be heard after, until Ed suddenly moves on-screen from the left. The only thing that can be seen of him due to the angle, however, is the lower half of his body. He stays stood where he is for a moment before he pivots and turns toward what looks to be a tree.]

Aw hell, come on... Did it have to be all the way up there?

[There's some leaning going on now, and then some stretching. He steps away from the tree after, and then starts jumping. If he's jumping, it can't be that high up. After four tries, he breathes out a heavy, exasperated sigh.]

This is so stupid. Especially when it's right there! Should've just climbed the damned thing. [He taps his foot for a moment and a 'hmm' is softly heard before a distinct clap happens after. There's a flash of vibrant blue for a split-second and once it clears a little wooden step-stool can be seen within Edward's hands. He sets it on the ground and steps up on it, reaching up and finally pulling down his skateboard. It definitely had to have been on the first branch of the tree. With his skateboard tucked underneath his arm, Edward steps off of the step-stool and down onto the ground again.]

Man that was kinda embarrassing. [He gives a little snicker after, walking off.] Glad no one saw that!

[OOC: Sorry for everything lately, everyone. Trying to balance this all out.]

[The feed flips on to reveal a dimly lit living-room, the only source of light seeming to be coming from off-screen. Thick shadows creep across the wooden flooring, inching their way across a couch that's a few good feet away from the PCD. Laying across the couch is Edward, a book in hand, who is oblivious to the video that has been switched on. He looks odd; having not been seen or heard from in awhile is troubling in itself, but besides that the boy looks slightly unkept... and paler. Definitely paler.

He sits there, nearly perfectly still, save for his light breathing and occasional blinking. He's staring. Staring at the book in front of him. It then becomes very apparent that Ed isn't even reading. His eyes aren't moving back and forth across the pages. They never had been. A few minutes pass before Edward suddenly just stands, leaving the book on the couch, and moves off-screen. The feed eventually simply times out.]

[OOC: And here's Ed, guys. <3; Told you all I'd get him back into the game~!]

THERE'S FUCKING SAND.

AND IT'S EVERYWHERE. It got all inside my damned pants and the pockets!

It's hotter than hell too, and my automail is making me boil to death. Should really find my coat.

WHAT THE HELL DID I COME BACK TO?!

[OOC: Ed had been off doing research again, reviewing the notes and papers from the Inner City Incursion; thus his absence. He'd only been around very sparsely, only checking in on Alphonse to see how he was managing in the clinic. Very shortly after that, all communication was lost with Ed. The reason being? His PCD got lost. Lame, but it would explain a lot. Now Ed's back, a newly forged PCD in hand and ready for action~]

[The feed clicks on to show Edward slouched within a chair, most of the video only able to capture his upper body due to the angle. His right elbow is cast to the arm of the chair; his hand pressed against his forehead, fingers lightly squeezing his temples. The expression on his face is dark and grim, bright ambers seeming to be smouldering. There's a moment before he says anything.]

I'm really fucking tired of these games, you son of a bitches. If I ever manage to get a hold of one of you Animus fucks, I swear you won't soon forget it.

[His eyes travel away from the PCD for a moment, as though he's thinking, before they soon return. He lets a sigh go, shaking his head and squeezing his eyes shut for a moment before the video is switched to text.]

( [Filtered to Kakashi & Anko ∇ Unhackable] )

( [Filtered to Touya ∇ Unhackable] )


( [Filtered to Alphonse ∇ Unhackable] )

( [Filtered to Trisha ∇ Unhackable] )

LIST OF PEOPLE SHORTER THAN ME IN THE CITY
-ELYSIA
-SKYLER
-DAXTER
-GOKU
-HITSUGAYA
-THE COLONEL
-WINRY
-SASUKE
-DONALD
-YACHIRU


LIST OF PEOPLE TALLER


GOALS
-BECOME TALLER THAN TOUYA
-BECOME TALLER THAN DAD
-BECOME TALLER THAN MOM
-BECOME THE TALLEST IN THE HOUSE
-BECOME THE TALLEST IN THE CITY
-Drink. More. Milk.

[OOC: Strikes gone. Okay, so this is totally something for fun. (Thanks for the idea, Jackie~!) I'm not sure how many characters here are shorter than Ed, but if you'd like your character to be on that list, just say so~! Also, with the characters that I already listed, I'm taking a guess? 8D; If you don't want your character on list, again, say so. As for how Ed managed to get the height of the characters listed, we could totally say he went and spied or something. You know how obsessive he gets about height! Ed's height and stats are listed in his user info. <3 Yes, he grew just a bit. >[]

FUCKING GOOD. I got my damned body back.

Having Setsuna's body wasn't so bad, I guess. Just missed my alchemy~ And oh so amazing looks. Psh.

THAT MEANS THAT AL ISN'T THAT BASTARD OF A COLONEL ANYMORE EITHER.

[OOC: Strikes gone.]

JUMPING ON TOO. BECAUSE IT'S THE COOL THING NOWADAYS.

( THIS FAMILY IS CRAZY DYSFUNCTIONAL )

Here, we've even got a Family Tree worked off! Thanks for making this, Pen~! ♥

If you want in on this, just say so~! I think there's still a bit of room left in the Sibling department for a possible sister! There may also be room for more Aunts! Who knows! Just throw an idea out there and we'll go from there.

Plot tiems and whatever else you may have in mind, feel free to plot with me over AIM or e-mail. Feel free also to tell me if I missed someone or such. M'sorry if I did! This family is amazingly hard to keep track of, rofl.

Important Sibling Note: Whoever wants to/becomes Edward's brother/sister - we need to have serious plot tiems. Because we have to discuss Edward's automail!limbs and how his new siblings relate to that~

[The PCD's video feed pops on and Edward - now apparently Setsuna - is sat up in bed and appears to be strangely tracing the palm of his right hand with a finger. His hair is a mess, which indicates that he's probably just woken up, or at least only been awake for a few minutes. His expression seems to be slightly mesmerized, nearly curious. The boy suddenly moves away from looking at his right hand, as though he's suddenly remembered something. His left hand rushes down towards where his left leg is, pulling up the covers slightly in order to feel it. For a moment, he simply stays in that position, hidden thoughts turning behind those eyes... and then at all once he snaps back to life and shoves off of the bed in a hasty manner. He disappears from off screen a few seconds later.

The feed times out on its own.]

[OOC: Post backdated to yesterday morning.]

[The PCD's video feed clicks on. The only thing that can be seen at the moment is a ceiling. Loud booted footsteps are heard nearby however, and they seem to be making haste.]

Alphonse!

[Definitely Edward's voice there, and he does not sound happy in the slightest. His voice is actually stained with worry and annoyance; more worry than anything else. The sound of his footsteps fade, as it's obvious he's probably making his way out of the current room.]

[His voice can be heard from outside of the room, possibly downstairs, but it's echo-y now.]

AL! ARE YOU EVEN HERE?!

[It suddenly becomes very quiet, Ed having stopping calling, until there's a very loud punching sound that's heard from downstairs. The punch connected with something, oh yes, most likely the wall.]

Fuck!

[The booted footsteps are heard making way their up the stairs again. Edward's face suddenly appears within the video after that, and instantly there's a dangerous scowl across his face once he realizes the PCD has probably been recording. He picks it up, and the last thing that is shown on the video feed is the ground. The last thing heard is a deafening shattering noise.]

[OOC: As per this post, Alphonse has been missing since mid-yesterday. Because of this, Ed is doing what he does best when Al is missing. Go beserk. So he's put a huge dent somewhere downstairs in the Elric apartment, busted his PCD up (Which doesn't really matter. He can fix it using alchemy anyway.), and gone out searching for Alphonse by himself. Oh, he's super pissed.]

[Edward's voice clicks over on the PCD. It sounds like he's in a really good mood - too much of a good mood at that. To those that know him well, he's either playing this up, or totally bullshitting.]

HEY GUESS WHAT EVERYONE.

Al's cat is probably pregnant! Yeah, yeah I'm sure a lot of you think that's old news, but there's something that you didn't know!

I am

We're holding a kitten auction!

That's right; the little monsters kittens haven't been born yet but I figured we'd have so many of them to give away, I might as well start taking pre-orders right now!

There may even become back-orders! So hurry and put your name on the reserve list today!

You'll be guaranteed one as soon as they're born!

[Ed's voice comes through again shortly after. He sounds irritated this time, and much less hyped up.]

Forget the auction. Never mind.


[OOC: Strikes gone. Obviously, this post is in direct response to this post.]

[The PCD device clicks on and a voice that hasn't been heard for a good amount of time pitches through. It's gruff and tired, but there seems to be an underlying anticipation behind it all.]

...Al, Mom, I'm back.

[His voice falters and he clears it before he continuing on.]

It's been awhile, I guess. A bit longer than I thought, but time really wasn't too much of a priority. I did get around to that research I said I was going to do out in the Wastes, and I did find out a few things I was looking into.

[He pauses after, leaving the end of that sentence eerily awkward.]

...But uh. I came across a finding that's a bit... how do I say this, exactly? Oh, right. It's beyond fucking creepy.

It's some sort of alternate story or comic of my life. Shit that's never happened to us before is in this thing! It's- I don't know- I can't explain it. In this part that I found - I think it goes by chapters or something - Al, you got kidnapped by Greed. But the series of events that happened were different!

I'll show you it once I've reached the apartment. Be there soon.

[OOC: Right, here's the long awaited Ed post. :D He's been out in the Wasteland doing research for the last month or so. After the Vistors!event, with Hohenheim showing up and all, he took off. But not without letting his family know where he was off to first. Also? Yeah, he's found a bit of the FMA manga. I fourth-walled it, lawl~]

Okay, so. My mom might be pregnant, which is totally ew if you think about what recently just took place, oh hell god don't remind me Alphonse is acting really freakin' weird lately, and oh uh... Winry's gone as well.

Fuckin' perfect. And don't gimme any of that 'oh Ed, she's better off back home anyway' shit. I know that. That's not the point.

At least that bastard is gone if anything. I'm so glad it was just event, so, so glad. There's no room here for him.


[OOC: As always, strikes gone. And oh god, I know. It's been too long since Ed's been around. You don't have to remind me with how much fail has been happening over these past 3 or 4 weeks concerning my part here. I won't go into the excuses. For the Visitors Event, I'll say that Ed was around but not nearly as much due to Hoho's appearance and stuff. He was off and being glum for a lot of it. FMA Crew, god. I can't apologize enough. Forgive me, please? Anyway, just wanted to let you all know that I'm finally throwing Ed back into play~]

[The PCD clicks on, and Edward's voice comes through. It's low and solid, though it still has a very uneven edge to it. It's way too well controlled.]

You thought I wouldn't find out, didn't you?

[OOC: Takes place due to this, this, and ultimately, this.]

⇒ During [Event!The Great Equalizer]

You guys... damn. I so should have known.

Thanks for the birthday party. You didn't have to, you know. Mom, the cake was delicious. You haven't forgotten what I like at all.

Asuna, hell - you could have done something other than resorting to punching me in the face several times! I mean, I know I was kinda insistent on going back home, but come on! It hurt too! What kinda distraction is that?! No wonder Setsuna was looking on the way she was! She knew what you'd planned!

Al... I know you were the big push behind all of this. You didn't have to go out of your way for me. Still, thank you little brother.

I loved all of it.

So, Seventeen now, huh? Funny that. It doesn't really feel any different.

[OOC: Strikes gone.]

⇒ During [Event!The Great Equalizer]

...February came fast. Or rather not.

Still no alchemy. Yay. Shit is boring. Has that sickness that's been going around lifted yet?

Also, Al? Can you go and fetch that damned soup bowl from the Colonel? He won't stop going on and on about it, and it's really annoying.

⇒ During [Event!The Great Equalizer]

Really, I should be used to things being strange and fucked up here, with how long I've been stuck in this place. It's almost gonna be year soon, I think.

But the last couple of weeks? Definitely been the cream of the crop. The Animus thought it'd be hilarious to restrict and remove my alchemy. Again. I'm glad they decided to be a little unoriginal for once, I can make do without it a bit better than last time. Still a huge pain in the ass, though.

Alphonse came back home today, finally. I swear it's been like forever. Still, I don't think I ever made a public thank you to everyone that helped in the search for him. [There's a bit of a pause.] ...Thanks guys. [He hesitates again, slightly unnerved, obviously not too good with speeches such as this.] I really mean it.

[He clears his throat softly, trying to change the tone now.]

Besides all that, there's another "Al" running around now - he said his name was Alfons Heiderich? I really have no idea who the hell he is, despite how much he keeps insisting that he knows me.

( [Filtered to Winry ∇ Unhackable] )

( [Filtered to Envy ∇ Unhackable] )

( [Filtered to Self ∇ Unhackable] )

[OOC: Strikes gone. Also, yes, Ed is finally able to use the 'unhackable' filter since Al installed Friday (Melissa Mao's Filter Program) on Ed's PCD for him. ♥ He still hasn't got any clue on how to hack, however, rofl.]

⇒ During [Event!Decompression Attempt]

Shit is so, so fucked up right now.

I hate it.


[OOC: Despite the fact that Ed's still out searching for Al like crazy, and he hasn't been around the network too much, he's still heard the gist of recent happenings. So as you can imagine, he's pissed as hell.]

[Edward sounds very, very exhausted and burnt out, his voice is flat, worn, and dull. Numb, even.]

I don't know how much longer I can do this. I've searched everywhere, more times than I can keep track of already. I've searched like crazy - by myself, or with Sasuke. No matter how far out into the City we go, or how deep we travel into the Wasteland, we can't find him.

I've been sleeping only because I have to, I don't care about eating, I don't care about taking care of myself, I only fucking care about finding my little brother.

[His voice raises, angry with the situation, as well as himself.]
AND I CAN'T SEEM TO DO THAT.

[There's a long pause after that before Edward's voice finds itself again.]

I don't understand what happened.

I just want him home, safe. [His voice drops, going cold, and bitter.] I'm never going to be right unless he is. I can't live without him.

Don't leave me, Al, please don't leave me. If you can hear this - hang in there, alright?


[There's another pause, before Edward raises his voice to normal level again.]

I'd really appreciate it if everyone just kept their eyes open for him at all times, alright? If you run into him, or have any form of contact with him whatsoever, let me know immediately.

Thanks.

[OOC: Strikes gone. Obviously, Ed's reacting to this incident. For this reason, Ed will not respond nearly as much on the network as usual. It'll almost be like he disappeared too. And if he does respond to something around the network lately, his reply might be curt, to the point, and probably rude. Al's his top priority.]

⇒ During [Event!New Years Celebration]

Not really a party-type guy, so I don't think I'll be going to the New Years Celebration thing. Providing Al doesn't drag me out or something, knowing him.

So uh. You all have a good time, or whatever.

Juke, Asuna? KICK ASS GIFTS. Thanks a bunch for 'em. I've wipedout like, 10 times already, and that's on the damned skateboard alone. Al, you know how much I love the new boots you got me already. To the rest of you guys who gave me something - thanks a bunch.

AND WHOEVER GAVE ME THOSE PACK OF BEANS, YOU BETTER FUCKING HOPE I DON'T CATCH WIND IT WAS YOU, OR YOU CAN KISS YOUR ASS GOOD-BYE, SERIOUSLY.

Don't think I can accurately sum up how weird and intense this year's been, but... well. As long as I have my family and friends, that's all that matters.


So, here's to the New Year, I guess.

[OOC: So, so late with this - pretend Ed's gifts got dispersed on Christmas like everyone else's, guys. ( Ed's Shopping List~ )