[Ed hears the familiar sound of that voice before anything else, and at first he dismisses it. Between worlds where the gods played tricks and whatever weird coincidences he could come across, there was just no way he was going to let himself believe that Al was here.
Except that when he turns, he sees a very familiar red coat and long ponytail. A red coat that he had long ago stopped associating as his and started seeing only as his brother's.
There were no gods here, this was no trick. If Al felt displaced at all this is where he'd end up, that was the story, right? The name slips out before he can even catch himself, because he doesn't know what to say, and he's definitely not sure how he feels about finding his little brother here.]
Alphonse!
[He might have no idea that his younger brother is under the influence of the repellent, but even if he did it wouldn't change the fact that the older Elric is frozen firmly in place where he stands. Looking for all the world like someone that just saw someone they were ex-communicated from for a period of time, rather than a beloved little brother.
Should he turn around, the first thing Al would notice about his brother might be the lack of white and brown attire. He still looks older, like he did on that ship Alphonse was trying to follow him onto, but dressed in all black, white gloves covering his hands. His hair was pulled back in a braid rather than the high ponytail, but the fringe still framed his face as if he hadn't seen a haircut in a number of years and he seems... Tired in comparison to the brother Al saw after being separated for two years.]
04. because I'm mean
Except that when he turns, he sees a very familiar red coat and long ponytail. A red coat that he had long ago stopped associating as his and started seeing only as his brother's.
There were no gods here, this was no trick. If Al felt displaced at all this is where he'd end up, that was the story, right? The name slips out before he can even catch himself, because he doesn't know what to say, and he's definitely not sure how he feels about finding his little brother here.]
Alphonse!
[He might have no idea that his younger brother is under the influence of the repellent, but even if he did it wouldn't change the fact that the older Elric is frozen firmly in place where he stands. Looking for all the world like someone that just saw someone they were ex-communicated from for a period of time, rather than a beloved little brother.
Should he turn around, the first thing Al would notice about his brother might be the lack of white and brown attire. He still looks older, like he did on that ship Alphonse was trying to follow him onto, but dressed in all black, white gloves covering his hands. His hair was pulled back in a braid rather than the high ponytail, but the fringe still framed his face as if he hadn't seen a haircut in a number of years and he seems... Tired in comparison to the brother Al saw after being separated for two years.]