Ah -- Hello, and thank you for calling Alphonse Elric!

If this is concerning the City Animal Shelter, press one!

Press two to see a list of animals available for adoption at the City Animal Shelter, press two!

If this is an emergency, press three.

If this is regarding Edward Elric, press four.

All other concerns, stay on the line, please!

[There's a rustle as Al rolls over in bed. But it's not the Al we all know and love -- this one's missing a ton of armor that he usually wears. Slowly, his eyes blink open.]

Huh. That's -- strange. I don't usually fall asleep like that. I wonder what --

[Long pause.]

Brother! Hey, Brother, wake up! I wanna see if I'm taller than you!

[OOC: Years that Never Were. Al has his body back, but he remembers the armor. And, since I can't find my good Al icon, just pretend that he's awake and not ten.]

Uhm. Okay.

P-pardon me, City? I know you're in the middle of a curse Just spit it out, Alphonse? and of course when I conclude this I will be pleased to let you finish I don't understand this at all... but I just wanted to say Why do I have to do this? t-that my brother, Edward Elric, is one of the best brothers of all time. Of all time! I can stop now, right?

[OOC: Interrupt away.]

Not just the Colonel... But Lieutenant Hawkeye, and Winry too? This place... It really is just awful the way it toys with our emotions. You stay here long enough and you take it for granted, I guess, but it never forgets how to hurt you. But -- I'm glad. I'm glad they're home. They can live their lives now, and they can move forward. So you didn't win, City. I know it won't be easy for them but it's better than stagnation. I'm glad.

Private to Edward Elric

I walked Den and I made us dinner.

[Hey, City? Have you ever seen an suit of armor wearing Liederhosen before? No? Well, here, have one!]

This is... awkward.

This library. One of these days I will go through and catalogue the place myself.

Since my searches haven't turned up anything, I suppose I'll just ask here. Has anyone studied time, in the City? I know that, in our world, theoretically time has stopped. We'll return to the same moment from which we came. I'm more interested in the changes while you're here. Has anyone noticed any discernible aging? In children, especially, do their bodies seem to mature? Or in those who have been here for a while. If you don't mind me asking, or you've noticed anything -- I'd really appreciate it if you would tell me.

Oh! And of course, welcome to all the new arrivals! It seems we're getting another rush. I hope you're all settling in and adjusting well.

Private to Riza Hawkeye//Unhackable

Lieutenant? You've come and gone from this place several times, correct? I'd be especially interested in your insights, if you wouldn't mind sharing them.

Private to self//Unhackable

I wonder -- are we frozen in time here? If we're not, if we're aging, then how does the City reverse those changes before it sends us home? Does my their hair grow? Or their fingernails? Is my body still aging while I loiter here? If it is...

My soul. Could it really reject the armor while I'm here? And if it does... I could be trapped here, like the City Dead. Or would I be gone for good?

W-What?

My armor is strange. It's covered with these gears and... like clockwork... they're embedded in. I can't pull them off. But everything's really jerky now, and slow.

[His words are interrupted by a long, slow hiss]

What is this? A - A steam valve!? Oh, all that humidity just can't be good for the blood seal...

Hey! Where are you going! Stop, I don't want to walk this way! Hey! Armor! Turn around!! Hey!!!!

EDWARD ELRIC! YOU ARE ENTIRELY TO BLAME FOR THIS, I JUST KNOW IT.

[OOC: Al's armor has been (steam)punk'd and he's blaming it 100% on someone's recent actions.]

Well, at least that's over. Separating someone from the people they love most -- that's the hardest thing someone can go through, even if it only is for 24 hours. Still... sometimes... Sometimes, you lose people. It's part of this life.

Well, that's enough of that.

Welcome to all the newcomers who have arrived here in the recent weeks. I know the adjustment can be hard, but I hope you're all finding ways to settle in. And don't forget, if you need a companion to keep the ticking at bay, you can come to the Year of the Cat Animal Shelter. We have many puppies and kitties waiting to find their new home. Having a pet around can really help you get comfortable in a new place, too!

[Private to Edward Elric]

You've been really quiet recently, Brother. What's going to blow up?

[/Filter]

[Private to Riza Hawkeye]

Lieutenant, how is Hayate?

[/Filter]

[Hey City, have an aggrieved adolescent wail.]

B-but I'm a scientist. I don't know anything about poetry!

Winry, don't --

Brother!

[OOC: Al's back, nabbed from the end of Chapter 46.

Update details (and Otakon pictures!) behind the ( cut. )

I'm... back to normal, then. I didn't even know to... Colonel, Lieutenant, has everything returned to normal?

B-Big Brother?

Huh....

This isn't Lior. I'm not sure this is even where I got off the train.

I guess I should check in with the Colonel and get my orders...

Ah! Excuse me, but is there a military base nearby? Or, if not, a public phone I could use? I would very much appreciate it!

[OOC: Explanation is longer than the post. *dies*

Al's been Road Not Taken'd to a reality where he refused to help his brother with their mom. Ed attempted to resurrect her and died in the process, despite Al's frantic attempts to save him. Al has two automail hands which he wears gloves to hide. The rest of his body is fifteen and human. He joined the military in an attempt to find a way to bring his brother back. Personality-wise, he's mostly the same -- a little sadder and a little tougher. But he has a body! Yay!]

Is.. Is it safe to come out yet?

At least it sounded like everyone was having a lot of fun yesterday....

[Private to Ed; Unhackable]

I think I found a good dog for Winry, Big Brother.

Do you want to give it to her?

A-Ahhhh..

Hey! Stop that! That's my head, and I need it!

No, you can not stick your hand in there -- Hey! I said stop!

BROTHER!!!!!!

Is there anyone in this City today who isn't crazy?

[OOC: Fourth walling is go! Don't forget, he's also available for torture here.]

I'm very glad everyone's feeling better... I didn't get sick, but it was still scary that everyone else was. Of course, now that everyone's getting better I'm sure the deities have something else in mind for us...

Oh! Everyone, the City Animal Shelter is merging with Miss Tohru's animal shelter. We're actually building a home for all of our puppies and kitties, so if anyone is willing to help out for a good cause we'd really appreciate it. And of course, if you're looking for a companion in the City, please come see us!

( Supposed to be private, but cursed. Visible to all//Fourth Wall Day Okay )

A wild Alphonse appears.

[OOC: Have at! Action for anyone who would like!]

[At first, all you can see is a flash and glitter reflecting in the lens of the camera. Then it draws back, displaying a very disgruntled looking Alphonse.

And yes, that IS a pink swarovski crystal flamel on his chest.]

BROTHER!

Get it off! Make it go away! Transmute it away!

I haven't been in the City very long, but judging by the sustained weather patterns the last month, I have to say: I don't think snow is generally common in June.

I hope my armor doesn't rust...

Private to Winry

Winry? How are you feeling?

I guess that happens a lot around here? Miss Uta told me we get a weekend like that once a month... It wasn't as bad as some of the other curses for me I mean but I didn't like it anyway. It was really chaotic.

Private to Tohru
I didn't want to bother you during the curse and things were really bad here but maybe we could meet sometime and talk about the animal shelter? If you're still interested, I mean, I don't want to pressure you!

Private to Winry
Are you feeling any better?

Private to Ed
Hey, Brother, I was reading a lot in the guide about the deities and it says they'll make trades or swaps for things you want and -- it's Equivalent Exchange. I think this place is just like home.

Maybe -- maybe if we know that we can find a way out for you and me and Winry and the Colonel.

I mean I'm sure you thought of this and I'm sure the Colonel tried too but there has to be something we can do.

[Alphonse is lying in the grass somewhere outside the City. Or at least, one of his hands is. It flops around, looking for something. When it hits the PDA, it closes on it. As soon as he lifts the device into the air, viewers can see that it's literally just a hand. In fact, all of his body has been blown apart at the joints, and the various pieces are scattered through the meadow. Except one, which is conspicuously missing.]

Brother, help! I can't reach my foot!

[The empty torso wobbles until it tips over, rolling onto its side. It then repeats the process to move closer to the hand not holding the PDA.

A moment later, that arm shoots up, holding -- another arm? This one is much smaller, and made not of armor, but Automail. It kind of droops in Al's grasp.]

Look what I got from Kimblee, Brother!

Now we just need to find my head...

[OOC: So, Al went to "talk" to Kim about his recent behavior, and... it didn't go well?]