01 | video

[forfeits]

[ the screen flickers on, and there's a new face behind it. Edward Elric, blond and looking more than a bit flustered, is sequestered into a corner of the library. being around books and paper and things seemed far better than the med lab or his room, more metal than ever. ]

So pretty sure everyone knows about our metal eating friends. And where I'm from, I've never seen anything like this. Most of this place is comprised of metal, and my brother Al and I... well.

[ he shows automail arm, which in most circumstances he wouldn't put on display, but with these things around he doesn't really have a choice. ] But back home, we have something called alchemy, we can manipulate the elements of things around us, like this, see? [ he claps his hands together, and runs his flesh hand over his other, the metal shifting to form blade at his forearm. ]

If we can find something that has little to no metal content, we could create a container for these things, something to hold them. At least buy us time, for things to get fixed.

[ he shrugs, looking around himself warily, some noise in the walls echoing onto the video feed. ] We may not be able to help in the actual catching too much, but it's worth a shot. I don't know how many of these things there are but I sure am getting tired of these bastards trying to chew me apart already!

[ one goes for his arm, in fact, on camera, and he lets out an aggravated wail and smashes it against the wall. the fullmetal life, right here. ]


(ooc: in response to the event! )

Comments

action;

[armoured]

[Al pauses from his research to look up as Ed sends one of the strange little creatures flying, before he has to add a suggestion in the guiltiest tone of voice possible.]

Um, brother?

[This is sacrilege.]

Books aren't made of metal.

[forfeits]

[ Ed looks up at Al, wide eyed and surprised by the implications his brother is making. ]

We can't use the books, Al. Elizabeth would kill us.

[ and that's just one of the many reasons. ] Have you lost your mind? [ is this Alphonse Elric the real Alphonse? he's not sure, now! ] Paper might not be strong enough, anyway, if they get agitated!

[armoured]

[His shoulders are hunched as if he's already beating himself up for even making this suggestion. But if the choice came down to the ship, Ed, or the books... he knows what choice he would make.

Even if it did have him killed right after at Elizabeth's hands.]

We can transmute it back into wood, Ed! Use your head.

[Honestly, bro!]

[forfeits]

If we have to.

[ they haven't even read all of them yet, but it could be easily made into something strong enough, Al is right. ] Make logs, yeah, it'd be sturdy. There have to be other things we can use, though, not just the books.

[ there is evidence of despair in his tone, but he sighs. ] But it might be our only option. We can't let them continue damaging the ship. There's only so little we can do, too. The metal is going to run out eventually.

[armoured]

I'm hoping someone else will have a different idea, or maybe that there's cargo on board made of materials we can use that will hold them more effectively. Glass, maybe? Or some kind of strong plastic?

[He's already getting an idea, something that might save the books.]

What about the trays in the cafeteria, are they plastic?

[He doesn't eat, so he doesn't go in there much to find out.]

[forfeits]

I'm sure there are cargo bins we could use. I'll do a test and see what they're made of. But -- you're right. The trays in the cafeteria. I think they are, and we could make those stretch a long way.

[ he frowns, looking up in thought. ] But there's no telling how many of them there are, either. I feel like they're everywhere.

[armoured]

They have to have come from somewhere, and there can't be an infinite number of them. Maybe it'll be hard, but it is possible. We just have to keep trapping them until we've got them all.

[He balls his massive hand into a fist, pumping it for added determination.]

I guess we'll find out how many there are when we're done.

[forfeits]

Yeah, but I don't know where they came from. I guess cargo, but there are so many. But you're right, we're just going to have to work as hard as we can and try to get these things rounded up. Maybe the captains will know what to do with them once they're contained?

[ he sighs, looking around the room. ] I can't believe you'd suggest the books first, Al! [ he's kidding, mostly. ]

[armoured]

H-hey, it was a good idea.

[He might sound a little overly defensive, mostly because he's also ashamed of himself for suggesting the books first.]

But if we can find something else to use, I'd definitely not be complaining.

[forfeits]

We'll think of something. Not everything here can be metal, Al. We just have to know what the things are. There are substances here that we don't have back home. I wonder if there's a book on things like that. Materials used in other planets and ship and what they're made of.

[ then at least they could use their alchemy! ]

[tearmeanewone]

[From out of view, there's a distinct sound of something impacting metal, and a screech as a dented scraplet goes flying across the Elric brothers' field of view. A few seconds later, Elizabeth stalks forward, wooden golf club in hand, looking breathless, harassed, and sweaty from chasing the little bastards all over the ship and beating the life out of them. So she is in no mood for what she's overheard--]

What about the books?

[armoured]

[Why does he suddenly get a mental flashback to Teacher? He shrinks back as if he can hide behind Ed, hands held up in front of him.]

N-Nothing, ma'am! Brother was just suggesting we use the books to make a cage since they're not made of metal.

[Sorry, bro, throwing you under the bus!]

[forfeits]

[ oh god, he did not expect her to show up. but they are in her library, after all. he's laughing a little nervously until Al speaks, then he just looks enraged. ]

W-what! No, I didn't say that! It was Al's suggestion to use the books! I wouldn't do that!

[ ... this is too much like home. is he gonna get hit with a wrench next? ]

[tearmeanewone]

I don't care who's suggestion it was--

[Another scraplet comes clicking down the aisle, obviously overjoyed to see Al. Elizabeth is one-thousand percent finished with this nuisance, and she runs ahead of it and uses it for driving practice. After watching it collide with her desk, she looks back over her shoulder at the brothers.]

--if I come back to a forest where my library once was, I'll find both of you and none of us will sleep until every word is back where it should be.

video;

[takeitslow]

Al as in the big armored guy? That's your brother?

[Cause that's totally what's important in Ed's speech. Focus Peter.]

What about ceramics? Could you make something out of the plates and stuff from the mess hall or is that too breakable?

[forfeits]

Oh, yeah, that's my younger brother.

[ ... not many people have likely figured that out yet, either. because Al definitely has the height of an older brother. ]

That might work, yeah! Assuming they'll let us use those. It's for the good of the ship, and once we get rid of them, Al and I can make new plates out of the crates.

[takeitslow]

Wow. Should have guessed. Both of you seem to like studying.

[Considering that his twin suddenly has half a decade on him, Peter is in no position to comment on the younger or older debate.]

I can just steal them from the cafe. Allison won't mind. [She probably will, but he can take the lecture.] Do you want me to bring you some? I can be there in, like, no time at all.

[forfeits]

Maybe just try one, then? I can give it a shot. I'll have to do a little bit of research on what they're made. I have to know the makeup of the stuff to perform alchemy on them!

[takeitslow]

I can be there in like, a solid minute. Just hold tight and don't get eaten. Library, right?

[forfeits]

Library, yeah! Should I time you, or...?

[takeitslow]

Only if you want to be impressed, dude.

[He doesn't bother to give any time for that, taking off as soon as the words are out of his mouth. He keeps the feed on, letting the video catch the blur of the world around him as he zips back and forth. He only turns it off as he enters the library, some cups in hand and a grin on his face as he stops in front of Ed.]

[forfeits]

W-whoa!

[ he jumps a little when Peter finally arrives, his eyes wide. ] That... was awesome.

[takeitslow]

[He bows, pleased with Ed's response.] Ta-da. It really is, isn't it? You'll stop being as surprised eventually. You just need to hang around me more. [He holds the cups out for Ed to take.]

[vengeance_driven]

We got some spare plastic sort of crates in the cargo bay. Will that work?

[He's tired of these things snacking on his buddies.]

[forfeits]

Haven't worked with it much, but it should work. We just need something devoid of any metals, it seems that's what they go after first. Al and I can modify them, too, make them bigger or stronger. It's hard to say, we don't know how many of these things there are.

[vengeance_driven]

They are going after metals that are connected to people most of all. Or people made of metal.

You might be able to herd them if you get them chasing you guys. They will prefer you over other metal.

[forfeits]

Yeah, definitely noticed that they have a particular taste. It'd take a few people but we could try it, get them chasing us and then trap them. Then maybe when they're contained we can find a way to deactivate them all.

[ he looks up in thought, nodding. ] But there seem to be more and more of them every day. I wonder where they're coming from.

video.

[whatdidisay]

Whatever you do, don't use the books.

( he's reasonably sure the head librarian will destroy them. )

[forfeits]

Yeah, I don't plan on it. I'm sure there are alternatives.

[ he hopes, but if there are no other options and it means saving the ship...? ]

[whatdidisay]

No one's going to save you from the head librarian's wrath if you do. Least of all me. ( ok though, onto important things: ) If you can manipulate elements, does that make you a.. mutant?

( the word pulls on his face unpleasantly -- old habits die hard, after all -- but peter mentioned that some of them get powers, so who knows.

he's from about two thousand years after alchemy went out of favor and a different planet, alright, he's a bit slow on the uptake. )

[forfeits]

We won't! I don't want Elizabeth after us anymore than you do, trust me. And they're books.

[ he sighs. but the term mutant -- that's something he's learned here. ] No! I'm an alchemist -- it's a metaphysical science. We use the energy around us to manipulate matter. It sounds a little weird, but it's not really like a mutation.

[whatdidisay]

( oh. that's... better, ivan supposes, and ivan's expression melts away into a more amicable one. )

Pretty sure it is weird, but-- I guess it could be useful. You know, when you're not sporting limbs made of metal.

[forfeits]

No, it's really amazing what alchemy can do! [ huff, huff, he's proud of his alchemy, thank you very much. ]

Yeah, the limbs of metal part doesn't exactly help with the whole metal-eating robots thing!

[whatdidisay]

Like? ( alright kiddo, he'll indulge you. ) There's some wooden boxes down in the hold, if you think those'll help?

( because, alright, having your metal arm eaten off does not sound like a fun time. )

[forfeits]

Er, a lot of things. I could make a statue of you out of the floor. Maybe out of some dirt. I could build a whole house if I wanted to. It all depends on the material and how it's manipulated.

[ but the boxes do sound like a good idea, and he nods. ] Yeah, worth a shot. I should be able to make them bigger, too!

[whatdidisay]

Please, don't feel the need to demonstrate that first one. ( he really does not want a statue of himself made out of anything. )

You gonna be able to get down there by yourself?

( ivan's not the sort to volunteer his services, but if ed can rope him into it, well. it's fair game then. )

[forfeits]

I don't know, my brother, Al, made one of Bruce Banner, it looks pretty awesome. You don't know what you're missing.

[ he's only being mildly sarcastic, though. it was pretty neat, but maybe it's better to limit statutes only to a small number of people. ]

You said the cargo hold, right? I should be able to, but it just depends how many of those things are around.

[whatdidisay]

The guy that went large and green and started punching things? ( well alright, he can't judge for taste. ) Well if you run into trouble, a network post'll get you some attention.

( and he might be convinced to help, then. )

[forfeits]

Er, yeah, that's him. I think, anyway. I'll definitely say something if I get into trouble. Thanks for the advice!