victory_road | [Video]

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[Video]

[The video already starts swiveling. First up, showing the hints of a young man's face. Then down, where it looks like the entire contents of his backpack has been cleaned out and arranged in meticulous, well-organized piles.

This frame lasts long enough to focus, and a Skarmory wanders between each pile, poking the top of each with her beak before moving on to pull and prod at the bottle of conditioner.

A male voice is heard, just out of frame:]

Hey, don't mess around with that! You could--

[...Too late. The small bottle explodes, splurting some white stuff on her face, but most of it squirted across the grass, with some landing on his green apron.

She squawks with obvious irritation and shakes to get it off.]

--Break it.

[The camera swivels one last time to a very obvious shot of Alfons, who then looks down, surprised.]

Is this on?

[He stares at it for a moment, and then a shroud of shadow (his hand) covers the camera as the feed abruptly shuts off.]

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[At first Ed is ready to dismiss this broadcast, a lot of weird stuff happens on the network - especially when a Pokemon gets ahold of their trainer's Gear. Whatever this was, it was clearly accidental.

He's pretty much able to convince himself that he's imagining things when the other's face comes into view at all, but the voice is too clear to ignore. Still, Ed doesn't think to respond - because he's too caught up in his own thoughts, his own confusion, to process the concept of responding. If he'd bothered to turn the Gear on at all, Alfons would get the same silent treatment as Lust.

That is until Alfons looks straight into the camera, and Ed's brain kicks back into action - sort of.]

Alfons-?!

[There's a crash, a fumble of words and German curses as loud blunt sounds assault the microphone.]

Edward? Edward, is that you?

[What were the odds? No, really, what were the odds? He wakes up, alone, with no visible wounds but with his old clothes, as though the events of that night never happened.

He almost didn't even check the device. After cleaning the bird's face with a green bandana in his pack, he saw a blinking light on one of the parts of the screen, with a 'notification' on it.

And then, this.]

[Well. This was already going great.]

Of course it is!

[Smooth.]

What are you doing here..?

[It's the best. See, Alfons even pushed the right button!

Though the camera is a little off-center.]

I should ask you the same thing! Where is this place?

[Okay, Ed is now switching to private, because reasons.]

Not Germany, that's for sure.

Hey listen, don't tell anyone anything about you, okay?

Just stay right there, we'll come get you.

[Well, that wasn't a very good answer. Still, Edward seemed serious about this. Pressing for more answers was probably not the smart choice right now.]

Well, I figured that.

And...'we'?

[But he could at least ask that.]

[HE'S STILL PRETTY LOST HIMSELF, OKAY?]

Yeah, my brother's here too. He's been here awhile, so he can probably explain everything better.

[Oh yeah, his brother. The one he kept talking about back in Germany.

The one Edward couldn't wait to get home to.

Thankfully, his curiosity quashed down any sourness that could have crept into his expression.]

'Awhile'? How long have you been here, Edward?

Two months?

[He paused, as if mentally counting.]

More or less.

Did you wake up in that bedroom, too?

[That is such a strange question Ed's just going to stare for a moment. Then it clicks what Alfons means and he shrugs.]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure we all do. Maybe not the same one, but some strange house. Before you're pushed out the door with a bunch of supplies to start this journey or whatever anyway.

[Honestly, after the fit Edward has over the post it's hard for Alphonse to NOT go and find it. ...man, it is awkward to see your near-twin on camera, especially after going to his funeral.]

[Al takes a moment to compose himself, but it's clear when the feed turns on that he's rather worried, and a Luxray is looking over his shoulder at the 'Gear curiously.]

Alfons...Heiderich?

[Al isn't sure when he hopes his double is from, but this is gonna be weird either way.]

[Okay, wow. Okay.

It's not every day you see a near-twin of yourself staring into a camera. Especially one that knew his name.

You know what? This isn't even the weirdest thing that's happened to him today. No weirder than meeting a bird over five feet tall, using technology beyond anything he's ever seen, and somehow being alive.

He can work with this.

He smiles, though it is a bit strained.]

Yes, that's right. Who are you?

[Yup. Deffo super awkward. Al returns the smile, not quite as strained but a little more tired.]

I'm...Alphonse Elric. Edward's brother. He's...told me some about you.

[~~Probably a better introduction than 'I saw through your eyes in dreams for like two years'.~~]

[Alfons's face is a myriad of emotions; confusion, shock, sadness, joy, and all the way back to a calm surprise.

Yeah, this was...awkward.]

Good things, I hope?

[A joke to ease the tension.

...Yeah, it didn't seem to work, even to him. Abort.]

Edward's...told me some about you, too.

Of course! Why wouldn't he?

[Joke or no, Alfons deserves that much reassurance at least.]

Ah hah...yeah. He said he told you a lot of stories before. [This is getting really close to way-too-sensitive-for-public topics...abrupt topic change!] You just got here, right? Do you need help with anything?

[Change of subject! Yes, good! Anything to take away the obvious awkwardness that was stretching between them.]

Well...I'm honestly more confused than anything. what do you know about this place? How long have you been here?

[That's a good place to start.]

I've been here a few years. The most obvious thing is the animals--they're called Pokemon here, and we're expected to partner with them for competitive battles. You don't have to, but it's...really encouraged by the locals, heh. They're all fairly intelligent, and tend to bond pretty quickly once they're captured. The Pokedex function on the Gear you're holding can tell you more about individual species you encounter.

As for where we are...it's not either of our Earths. There's others that arrive here like you did, from all different sorts of worlds. No one's figured out why or how, or any way to get back of our own will.

[Alfons may have spent a few minutes looking at the pokedex function on his gear, and then may have been distracted looking at the other functions.

Ah, technology.

No matter what world it is, it will always send Alfons's mind on fire.]

Other worlds...

[Well, that makes sense. Edward and Alphonse were from one, he was from one, so multiple worlds wasn't such a strange thing.

Though you know--he probably wouldn't have admitted that to himself even a week ago.]

You know, at first, I thought that maybe this was your world. But this is a bit too different from the stories Edward told me.

[Every Elric is a geek, even the adopted ones. It's just pure fact.]

Mmm, yeah, it's very different here. The technology is miles ahead of both our times, for one thing! There's a lot to get used to once you're in the cities, especially big ones like Goldenrod.

[Just from the neatly organized piles, Envy had already written off whoever was making this video as "some weird nerd".]

[Then he sees his actual face and doubletakes.]

[?????????]

[He looks way too close to Al to be a coincidence. How many extra Elrics were there?]

[Well the only way he's going to find out is by keeping the kid talking on here.]

So you're gonna dump all your stuff on the ground and then be surprised when your bird wants it?

[...okay so keeping him talking may also involve sarcasm he couldn't help it. That's an Elric, even if it's one he doesn't recognize.]

[Yeeeaaaaah, that wasn't his finest moment. His cheeks reddened the tiniest bit, and his smile cracked with embarrassment.]

Oh, you saw that. I guess I did have that coming. I'll be more careful next time.

[He was just. You know. Organizing to keep his mind off everything.]

You're new, right? Word to the wise, keep an eye on your 'Gear or a lot of people are gonna wind up seeing a lot of things you'd rather them not.

[He lets out a laugh, this time making the effort to sound...less snide than before. Otherwise he's not going to get anywhere with this.]

Speaking from experience. I've been here a long time.

What's your name?

[Alfons pauses for a moment, and then smiles, just a little.]

It's Heiderich. And you are?

[HMMM.]

[That sounds more like a last name than a first name, and it ain't 'Elric'. But. Hmmm.]

Interesting. I mean, not that I can talk, mine's just Envy. Mother had a real interesting sense of humor.

[He keeps it casual, but he's watching to see if there's a reaction to the name.]

['Envy'? He's right, that is a weird name. Sounds like something Eckhart would come up with if she ever decided to have children.

Alfons clicks his tongue, but doesn't look particularly affected by the name--simply puzzled, in the same way one would be if they heard their new friend's name was "Moon Unit" or "Star Breeze", except far more subdued...

...Until his expression cools again.]

Well, it's nice to meet you, Envy.

[Envy pretends not to notice that sudden cooling, simply shrugging.]

[Underneath all this he is burning with curiosity and also some small amount of confused rage that he's not sure what to do with because he doesn't even know who this kid is.]

Likewise.

Y'know, it's funny. You look a little familiar.

[Yeah, hearing that still doesn't get any easier.]

I do?

Yeah... it's on.

[Is it just him, or does this guy look familiar. It's just him. Right?]

[Apparently not, because the Haunter leaning into frame looks just as baffled as Shiro does.]

You know that, though, right?

[Alfons laughs a little.]

Yes, I know that now. I'll remember to not press the record button on accident next time.

Hey, it's all right. It happens a lot.

You... don't know that already?

Where I'm from, this sort of technology isn't...

[How to word it without giving away too much information about himself.]

...exactly common. Before today, I'd never seen anything like this before.

But...

You weren't here before, were you?

[Alfons shakes his head.]

No, I wasn't.

Any twins in your family?

No; I'm an only child.

I... guess I'm imagining things. You just -- you look a lot like someone else here.

Um, yes! It's supposed to be on, that's how it works. Unless you didn't want it to be on....

[Rakka couldn't be sure, but she did watch the entirety of Alfons's video, so... maybe?

Then again, she still looks a bit confused as she answers the call.]

Is everything alright?

Well, I didn't want it to be on at the time, but I think I have it figured out now.

[He shakes his head.]

I'm okay, really. No need to worry about me, Miss.

O-oh... well, I'm glad for that then. It's not easy when you first arrive here. [She smiles evenly, assured that this wasn't a total disaster.]

...Oh, um. My name is Rakka. [Just getting that out of the way now.] I've been here for a while too.

_{[Scrollin' through the network, scrollin' through the network...]

[Hitting 'Like' on someone's fat Meowth video, hitting 'block' on a post claiming that DJ Steve is better than DJ Mary... oh hey, it's a video from Al--]

[that's not Al]

[Alfons will be greeted with the iconic sight of a scruffy-looking twenty-something squinting very hard at the screen, kind of like she's staring at the sun.]

[Before she actually says anything out loud, he might be able to tell she's mouthing the words '... another one?!']

[Is she GOING to say anything? Or just keep staring?]

[... No okay she's going to say something, she has to.]}

... Am I crazy, or are you an Elric?

[You know what? He should have expected this question would come eventually.

But when it does happen, it still feels like the Universe just slapped him in the brain.

Alfons really tried to fight back the nervous laugh. Really, he did. It just sort of...spilled out the side, that's all.]

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm going to say no on both counts.

_{[SORRY ALFONS.]

[Contrary to his expectation, she actually looks KIND OF RELIEVED.]

[Because WHEW.]

[For a second she was a little worried she'd have to go find Envy and be like "DON'T LOOK AT THE NETWORK, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE". Not realizing that he'd already beat her to the punch.]

[She weird, suspicious squint disappears, and she laughs sheepishly.]}

--HAHA, shit, sorry, that was kind of a rude thing to come right at somebody with!

You, uh.

Just look like some people I know.

_{[ONE person she knows, really. Still hasn't gotten a good feel for Edward yet.]}

[It's okay, Heather, really. Alfons is still getting used to the idea himself.

It's one thing to hear it, and it's another to...see them. Looking at you.

Yeah, it's going to take a bit before he looks at Alphonse without reeling at least a little.

But still, have a sheepish laugh right back.]

It's no problem, really. Surprisingly, Miss, you're not the first person to say that to me.

--ooh, really?

Uh, who else has said it?

_{[PLEASE DON'T BE ENVY. PLEASE DON'T BE ENVY.]}

Nobody here, if that's what you mean.

[Oh, Alfons. Technically that's not a lie, since nobody has told him that here yet.]

An old friend of mine used to say that to me, back home.

[Not a lie, but not exactly the whole truth, either.]

Do I look like a friend of yours?

[Is she a friend of Edward and Alphonse's? She did refer to him as an Elric, and she obviously saw the resemblance between him and Alphonse.]

--uh, yeah, haha. The spitting image, actually.

Kid named Al.

I actually thought you were him at first when I saw this video.

_{[And freaking triple-taked because how many mystery brothers are there.]

[But... what's leaping out at her now is that he said someone back home told him he looked like an Elric. So... he had to be from the same place, right?]}

[Good god, that's a striking resemblance to Alphonse. Lust blinks at the video, tilting her head curiously before responding.]

I'm sure you've realized that you're broadcasting. I wouldn't worry about your 'gear getting broken, they're durable things.

I assume you've just arrived.

You are...?

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[Audio -- Alfons tapped the wrong button.]

[video still, because Ed doesn't like to change settings]

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[Video] how many of these bastards are there

[Video] Alfons, you should have expected this.

[Video] there's so many of you blond bastids cut her some slack

[Video] Nah man he understands. He can barely believe it himself.

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