exsilium | video;

( his faint, faint, faint memories of exsilium allow him to remember how to work his tablet easily enough; so much so that he assumes he was just that clever in his ability to figure out how to use a new, somewhat antiquated device. his voice is calm enough when he speaks, bored, just this side of sounding utterly disdainful. )

If you were looking for a ransom, then you should've done more research before kidnapping the first teenager in sight.

( this isn't entirely true, of course; there's his connection to mr maverick, but that's not very common knowledge. anyway, it's not like he's about to blurt out being somewhat adopted by one of the most influential people in sternbild to a potential kidnapper. )

Since there isn't anyone for you to demand it from, anyway, this is a waste of time for both of us. Should you really be giving away computers, anyway?

( this is incredibly stupid and such a waste of his life. whoever's on the other end of this device is going to have to suffer his scorn in all of its teenage glory. he doesn't care.

and there's always his hundred power, if it comes down to it.

after a moment, an attachment will appear: attached: ouroboros.png

yes he drew that, fight him.)

If that mark or its name means anything to you, I want to know.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Well, damn. The shape isn't exactly right, but that's not a good reason to be less suspicious.]

Means a few things to me, yeah. What's it mean to you?

I'm looking for someone. ( he hurries on, because this is one of the more promising replies he's gotten so far. ) A man who has that ouroboros tattooed onto his hand.

[His breath catches for a second.]

Which hand? His left?

His right hand. ( that reaction isn't lost on him ) Why? Do you know someone with that tattoo on his left hand?

[Okay, maybe not... He still sounds tense, though. Considering how screwed up time is around here, especially at the moment, who knows what else is out there?] You could say that. So what did this guy do? Why're you looking for him?

( it's no secret, not really; the mysterious murder was splashed all over the news when it'd happened, and then it'd just become a cold case, a tragedy, something no one but him cared about anymore. he hasn't flat out told anyone here details, because if they don't know him, if he isn't here - it's (hard to talk about) pointless, does little more than garner some useless sympathy at best. )

He's a murderer.

( he's done well at keeping his emotions more in check so far, but with the possibility of a lead so close - his voice shakes on the end of the word with eleven years of helpless rage despite himself )

[It's a telling slip - though it's hard to blame the kid if there's a murder involved, never mind the possibility of something worse. How old did he look in that video, anyway?

Ed tries not to sound unsympathetic.] Right. And what does that make you? [A pause.] Don't tell me you're an alchemist...

Me? I'm -

( looking for something. justice. revenge. burying grief in a drive to find this person, justifying his own existence. )

- a what? ( oh right, a lot of people have mentioned alchemy in relation to ouroboros ) No. I'm - he can't be allowed to just get away with it!

Can't be allowed? So are you some kind of officer? [Seems plausible, thinks the guy who became a major at twelve.] Or are we talking more vigilante justice here? 'Cause if we're on the same page and you don't even know what an alchemist is, I can't say I like your chances. [He might feel slightly indignant here. Slightly.] But I could be wrong.

( he can't help the scoff he makes at the suggestion of officer - for all the good the police have done him. )

I know what an alchemist is! ( nnnot in the sense ed means, though. he's starting to get pretty indignant, himself. ) I don't care about chances - if you know something, I want to know what it is.

[Sheesh, calm down. But honestly, Ed's pretty sure he's been there; he relents just a little.]

Sorry to get your hopes up. It's like I said - I knew a few murderers with a tattoo like that before, but none of them had it on their right hand. I wouldn't be so sure they're even related to yours.

( ....he pauses to consider this. )

They could all be part of an organization - a gang, or something, though.

The ones I know, yeah, more or less - but they're keeping quiet about it if they are around here. That's something they were used to, believe me. Yours... I couldn't say. How good is your drawing, normally?

They are. I've been looking for a long time. My drawing is - accurate. That's definitely what it looked like.

Something you saw, is that right? And you're sure you aren't forgetting or [his hesitation here is almost too brief to be noticeable] conflating any details? It's important. Memory's hardly a straightforward thing, you know.

I remember it like I saw it yesterday. I couldn't forget it even if I wanted to.

You'd be surprised. But I'll get to the point.

[An attachment shows up shortly. The sketch is rough and the picture is shaky at best, but it's definitely an ouroboros in pencil.]

( that's...

it's similar. there's the snake eating its own tail, the principle hallmark. but of anything he might doubt from his memories, the presence of a star would be a pretty big omission on his part. which means - )

It's not the same.

( he says it blankly, feeling those hopes crash and settle. a false lead, which is really what he should've expected with everything he's heard about this place so far, but he hadn't been able to help himself. )

Right... In that case, yeah, sorry. That's all I have. [He thinks for a moment.] Could still be some relation, though. Different approaches to alchemy, it's not impossible.

But not very likely.

( there's a bitter edge to his tone now )

Hey, if "likely" meant a damn thing, seems like half of us wouldn't be here in the first place. [It's a surprisingly decent attempt at sounding encouraging. He can sympathise.] I'll keep an eye out, anyway. Call it professional interest.

( he breathes out once, and while he really hates the idea of sympathy - what ed said is true enough, so that's something. and "professional interest" is easy enough to swallow, given what he's heard so far - he'll have to get a grip and think it over, but there may be something to the coincidence. it doesn't have to be a waste, being here. maybe. after a pause, he answers. )

Thanks.

video;

voice

i must admit i was hoping for this

I live to serve o7 or to be predictable idk

haha or be awesome :D

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