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

[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.