star_kingdom | [Video] 001 * Intro & Traverse Town

[There's a bit of static. The device is recording, but its user has no idea how to use it and for a moment, all you can see is the white blur of a young teenager's hand. The sound of heavy breathing and a heavy footfall on cobblestones can be heard. Between the cracks in the hand, small flashes of red.

The image is suddenly free, looking at the sky of Traverse Town, and with a clatter, a glimpse of a golden braid and then a skidding sound as more of the child comes into view. Edward Elric has tripped and fallen, white gloved hand outstretched, the other hand beneath him.]

Son of a bitch.

[He rolls flat on his back and pushes himself up onto his elbows, eyeing the innocent stuffed animal with a red puff ball that has been chasing after him. Nothing that innocent looking is good in his experience. His chest heaves with the heavy breathing and he reaches for the device again, grumbling.]

Turn it off, turn it off.

[His face comes into view, strikingly golden eyes are focused on the device as though the moogle were remote controlled...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Pink thing?

[ He doesn't understand that Ed means the moogle.]

Looks like a stuffed animal. [He waves the communication device around as though that will help, and it does catch a small glimpse of the moogle. He has no idea what works and what doesn't.]

Oh, the moogle? That's a living thing. It's trying to explain what just happened to you.

[Ed frowns but he stares at it a moment.]

I don't like it.

It'll probably leave you alone once it finishes giving you the basic info about this place.

Okay...

[There's a pause as Ed lets the moogle give its speech. He takes everything he's supposed to have and then he takes up the device again.]

It's leaving.

[ Well, this is awkward.]

There's still a chance that other people from your world can end up here.

[Ed seems a bit disheartened.]

Other people...yeah maybe. [He runs his hand through his bangs.]

People tend to show up at different times...from different times.
There's a lot of weirdness to get used to.

[Ed has found his way to the hotel at least.]

I don't know if I like this kind of weirdness. I really want to know where my brother is.

He's most likely still back on your home world. Sorry.

That's why these communication devices are useful. He'll be able to contact you with it, once he's freed from this darkness thing.

Okay, okay. [Ed sucks in a breath, running a hand through his bangs. He's curled up and looks rather small like this, his boots have been discarded since you don't wear boots to bed.]

What can you tell me about the darkness? I'd...I'd like to understand more.

I don't really understand it myself. I don't know if it's a force or whatever. I'm sure we all felt it before being transported here. It's taken a bunch of worlds, and it doesn't seem to be limited by time.

There are these creepy monsters called Heartless that are related to it. They literally have no hearts, and some have really freaky powers. Their weaknesses vary. I've been able to shoot some of them with basic arrows.

It takes a certain type of weapon to completely destroy them. I don't know what that is, but anyone with some sort of fighting skill could weaken them. Sometimes they drop items that could be used or sold for munny.

[Ed tilts his head.] Is 1000 munny not very much?

It'll last a while, but you can still be stuck here when it runs out.

It seems like a lot, even with my research budget. More then I have ever seen before. [Ed rubs his finger along his cheek sheepishly.]

I can make it last as long as I need it to. Whatever it takes to get home.

The school in Destiny Islands helps with that.They cover food and housing, basic necessities. You look young enough to go.

I don't like school.

I'm not that young!

I never went to school before coming here, so it's a new experience for me. It's near a nice beach and the food is good.

It seems like anyone under 18 is young enough.

[ By the standards of his culture, Ed is an adult.]

You're in school? I hated it because the teacher always gave me the strap.

[Ed appreciates that.]

Yeah. It's a lot more reading than I'm used to but it isn't bad.

[ He's mainly there for the food.]

They don't use the strap here.