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...]

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[She seems to treat this question thoughtfully, looking back through the video feed almost appraisingly.]

If it's alright to ask, how old are you? [He seems about her own age, in which case she'll suggest the school of course.]

[Edward pokes the device and rocks back a bit, looking thoughtful.] I'm not a kid...

[He huffs.] I'm a soldier and everything. I'm...thirteen.

[Young. But she smiles and shakes her head.]

I wasn't think of you as being young. I was just wondering if you were the right age for school.

I don't have to go to school, I'm a genius.

Excuse me. Everyone is required to go until a certain age. Besides, it's too arrogant to assume you know what you need to yet. Your teachers can help you focus your own studies.

[Ed snorts and leans back against the wall.]

I quit school already in third grade. I don't need it. It's never served any purpose whatsoever. Kids are stupid. I can learn much faster and more accurately on my own.

[For a moment she's tempted to avoid the confrontation, to make a polite excuse to say goodbye instead.

But something in her just can't sit still when he's making light of and trampling things so important to her. Her mouth sets in a firm line.]

Don't belittle the dreams teachers and students bring to school and what they can accomplish there!

Teachers and students? [Ed stares.]

Our teacher was mean and I was always in trouble. She treated us like we were idiots, which I am not. We were working on multiplication. Multiplication! As if I couldn't do complex algebraic equations already, due to my trade! I mean really and then it's my fault her classes were boring? I hated it school, I hated the strap which I got all the damn time, and I never met a student that liked it. They all had farms to tend to. I don't really know what is so great about school!

There's still self-study with their guidance. You can't put yourself above others that way.

There was no self study. There was nothing I could do, so I quit. Al quit too. Winry kept going even though she slept through the classes. Al and I had bigger things to learn about. Besides, no one was going to make me go to school.

I think we'll disagree on this. Please excuse me.

[She needs to say farewell while she can still do it calmly and politely.]

[Ed stares a moment at the dismissal, and closes his eyes.]

Yeah, fine, whatever. [This world, his world, he could make it on his own.]

[She's not leaving him alone.]

Until later, then. Farewell.

[Certainly seems like it. He nods just a little and waves his hand dismissively. If she has to go, she has to go.]

Bye.

[Video] 001 * Intro & Traverse Town

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