riverview | ⁰³ video (𝗎𝗇: 𝗌𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽) memshare [ cw: blood, child death, war ]

[ before it starts, what's seen is alphonse sprawled out on his and ed's bed in the general store, a vulpix and an eevee curled up with him. but the scene swiftly changes, going dark before opening up in the ruins of a city. the ground trembles as alphonse stares around him. it's a war scene and this is his fault, he realizes, and he stumbles as something calls out from behind him. ]

Al!

[ alphonse whirls around at the sound of the familiar voice. his brother, looking worse for wear and in clothes vastly different from what he's usually seen in. this is the edward whom al last remembers before coming quarantine. and to al, ed is someone he doesn't want to see.

because there are bodies littering the streets. innocent people killed by the war he'd started. the war he'd allowed to happen because he'd been so desperate to get his brother back. desperate enough to open a gate between worlds that brought forth those who only sought to destroy...

ed, on the other hand, looks relieved to see his brother, even as al watches him with trepidation. ]

Al! You got out of there!

Wrath... showed me the way out. [ al's voice cracks a little ]

Wrath?!

That's right... I transmuted Wrath to open that gate. [ gilt swirls in eyes the color of mercury and ed gasps, shocked that his brother would go so far.

but before there can be anything further said, something soars down from the sky as screams fill the air. a nearby building explodes outward, rubble and dust raining down on them, but when it's settled, it's what al sees that makes him react.

a child's bloody hand can be seen between two slabs of concrete, blood pooling from somewhere to stain a dropped teddy bear.

screaming guttural and panicked, al slams his palms together, rushing forward in hopes of doing the impossible. he's done it once, brought the dead back to life, but he doesn't remember how he managed. he doesn't even remember that he'd sacrificed everything when his brother had died. only that they're together now in the midst of war and it's all his fault.

before he can reach the dead child, however, a hand made of steel and chrome catches him by the shoulder, pulling him back. ]

The dead cannot be brought back.

[ it's something al would know if he could remember the sin both he and his brother had committed six years ago. but the memory is lost, exchanged for a new life, and al sobs brokenly, falling to his knees. ]

Brother... is this my fault? Why did this happen? All I wanted was...

[ once more, ed settles his automail hand on al's shoulder, hoping to provide comfort as al shakes his head. ]

You were only trying to bring me back. I'm sure that's why Wrath wanted to help you. No one ever wanted a war like this. Not us, not anyone. But this war is our fault.

[ hearing this, al gasps, eyes widening with shock. meanwhile his brother continues, features set in unrelenting determination. ]

Understand? So we will defend this world.

[ turning towards ed again, al looks up at his brother. at first, he's still too guilt-ridden to respond, but as ed continues to watch him, al swallows and nods, well known elric stubbornness alighting in al's eyes. ]

For as long as we live, we can't act as if the world is no concern of ours.

[ at that, al's brows furrow. it takes a second or two, but he nods, pushing himself up. he can't do anything now for the child who'd been killed, but he can help his brother prevent further casualties. ]

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[Ivar watches the video with that same quick, intense look that colors his face a majority of the time. He recognizes Ed quickly enough, and though he hasn't met the other, the resemblance is close enough for him to realize this must be his brother. When the memory ends, he sends a video message.]

How does one bring the dead back to life?

[There's no unease or guilt that comes with looking in on things that he shouldn't be viewing. Ivar's not built to care about people the way everyone else does.]

[ al isn't entirely sure how his memory, his dream has ended up on the network like it has, but now that it's there, he can't do much to change it. he could delete the post, he supposes, but people like ivar have already seen it.

it's the questions he's dreading the most. like what he was thinking, or worse, precisely what ivar asks. ]

It's not possible.

[ not entirely true. he succeeded in restoring his brother back to life, but those had been very special circumstances. ones he's not about to discuss with someone he hardly knows. ]

And yet it looks like you were going to attempt it anyway.

[Ivar could understand why from an objective point, if not from an emotional one. For Vikings, the death of a child was something to almost be expected. To live past childhood was like the flip of a coin.]

You're Al, right? You look like your brother.

I was... I just- I was distraught. I wasn't thinking straight.

[ chews his lip as he nods. ]

We get that a lot.

Strange how that happens in families sometimes.

[Ivar and his brothers all look more like different combinations of their parents than any great resemblance to one another. It appears maybe he's done asking uncomfortable questions, but like a dog with a bone, he just can't let go.]

What would have happened if you'd tried?

[Yeah, he's going to keep pushing this, because Ivar is not a very nice person even when he's on his best behavior.]

[ for a few seconds, all al can do is open and close his mouth, unsure how to respond. there are many things that could happen when a person attempts human transmutation, but to know what exactly would've happened to him in that moment... al isn't sure. ]

Usually... the transmutation rebounds, killing the alchemist.

[Ivar folds his fingers under his chin as he stares at the video screen, eyes a bit cold.]

A life for a life. It makes sense. Then that wasn't terribly bright of you now, was it?

[ al winces visibly before nodding. ]

No- [ and his voice is exceptionally quiet. ] No, it wasn't

You seem like someone who feels things too much.

[Ivar may have all the sensitivity of goat when it comes to understanding his own emotions, but he's able to read other people very well.]

[ keeping his gaze dropped squarely at his knees from where he's sitting, he nods silently. ]

Brother says the same thing.

Tell me more about your brother.

[Changing the subject since it seems like if he pushes much further about it, Al will just clam up, and shut down.]

Are you close?

[ ivar's made a good call, and al perks up a bit, smiling affectionately at nothing in particular. ]

We're very close. Brother and I are practically inseparable. Plus, he saved my life.

[With a dull sort of ache in his chest, Ivar's reminded of his own brothers, and being separated from them these long months. He might butt heads with them almost constantly, but they're the only family he has left.

The mention that Ed had saved his brother's life made Ivar cock his head in a questioning manner.]

How did he do that?

[ the corner of al's lips quirk and his gaze remains affectionate. but explaining the intricacies of human transmutation and what had happened to him seems like a bit much for someone he barely knows. ]

Um... It's a long story.

You mean it's a complicated story.

[His lips quirk into a faint smile.]

There's a difference.

Yes. I'm sorry, I don't think I can explain it all.

Maybe another time then. You've made me curious.

[Curiosity plus Ivar's lack of boundaries were never a good thing. It would be best to explain alchemy to him before he got any bright ideas in his head.]

⁰³ video (𝗎𝗇: 𝗌𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽) memshare [ cw: blood, child death, war ]

Video @the.boneless

video; un: soulbound

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