Alphonse Elric (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alphonse) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
exsiliumlogs2013-04-20 12:51 pm
alphonse) wrote in exsiliumlogs2013-04-20 12:51 pm
(no subject)
Date & Time: April 19th
Location: Aboard the SS Dresden starting September 29, 1913.
Characters: Edward and Alphonse Elric
Summary: It's mission time, and the Elric brothers have been sent back to prevent the death of Rudolf Diesel. With the masters of subtlety on the case, what could go wrong?
Warnings: Shounen heroes and historical inaccuracies.
[It's just their luck to end up in a cargo hold.
Al flexes his hands, still shaking off the disorientation that comes with being instantly transported from solid ground to the middle of a ship already out at sea. Today marks only his second venture back in time, and this round is arguably even more surreal than the last. Taking in their new surroundings, he turns to check on Ed.]
You okay? They must've been serious about keeping a low profile if they're sticking us with the mail.
[He supposes he doesn't really mind, though. Starting off away from the other passengers will give them a chance to plan and get their bearings; with many details like the exact layout of the ship long lost to history, they're going to be working blind and must be careful if they want to pull this off. The mission, at least, is something he can abide by. They're saving the life of a scientist with good intentions and a waiting family; manipulating the past or not, there's little in that for Al to find fault with.]
There's no way to even tell how late it is yet. We're going to have to--
[He stops, cut off by the sound of approaching voices. Maybe time to think this through isn't a luxury they have after all.]
Location: Aboard the SS Dresden starting September 29, 1913.
Characters: Edward and Alphonse Elric
Summary: It's mission time, and the Elric brothers have been sent back to prevent the death of Rudolf Diesel. With the masters of subtlety on the case, what could go wrong?
Warnings: Shounen heroes and historical inaccuracies.
[It's just their luck to end up in a cargo hold.
Al flexes his hands, still shaking off the disorientation that comes with being instantly transported from solid ground to the middle of a ship already out at sea. Today marks only his second venture back in time, and this round is arguably even more surreal than the last. Taking in their new surroundings, he turns to check on Ed.]
You okay? They must've been serious about keeping a low profile if they're sticking us with the mail.
[He supposes he doesn't really mind, though. Starting off away from the other passengers will give them a chance to plan and get their bearings; with many details like the exact layout of the ship long lost to history, they're going to be working blind and must be careful if they want to pull this off. The mission, at least, is something he can abide by. They're saving the life of a scientist with good intentions and a waiting family; manipulating the past or not, there's little in that for Al to find fault with.]
There's no way to even tell how late it is yet. We're going to have to--
[He stops, cut off by the sound of approaching voices. Maybe time to think this through isn't a luxury they have after all.]
no subject
Diesel's, maybe. As for these...
[But no, hold on - the figures in the shadows might be advancing on them, but the person they just saw across the deck seems to be taking a more sensible option, and whether or not they turn out to be the man they're looking for, Ed isn't keen on the prospect of letting them get too far.
He shoots Al a look.] Hold them off. I'm gonna go check. [Then he breaks away and into a sprint.]
no subject
[He helps clear Ed a path by grabbing a man by his collar and pretty much tossing him at his companions, then steps out to fully concentrate on the task at hand. A couple of the guys are tough, but not particularly impressive--the type who think swinging a knife at the outside of a suit of armor is actually going to accomplish something. With a little alchemy and dramatic posturing, Al barely has to lay a hand on them to keep them down.
He doesn't go after Ed right away, though. If there's one thing he's learned about facing groups like this, it's that they get desperate and stupid when they think they've lost, and Al's not about to take any chances. He makes sure they're all properly restrained before dashing off after his brother, hoping Ed hasn't horribly compromised the structure of the ship for the sake of stopping his target.]
no subject
All the same, Ed has survived about nineteen years without learning how to be prudent, and he isn't about to start now. When Al catches up, he'll run straight into Ed finally bearing down on his target from behind and pinning the man to the ground, just yards away from yet another door.]
I said I just wanted to ask you something!
no subject
The deck's off limits for maintenance right now, sorry!
[If that didn't freak them out enough, then seeing someone pinned to the floor probably did the trick for giving them the wrong impression of who the bad guys are. The sound of rapidly retreating footsteps is hardly a comfort.]
Interrogate fast!
no subject
He hurriedly turns his attention back downward.] Listen, we're not going to hurt you, okay? We just want to know if you know where to find -
[But weirdly enough, having some loud stranger tackle him to the deck and interrupt his escape from a violent mob doesn't seem to have put this man in a cooperative mood. Face-down, his lightly-accented ranting is indistinct at best, but the gist of it is something about respect, something about plans to fetch a lawyer as soon as - no, more accurately, fetch all of the lawyers as soon as they dock... and a lot of swearing, the language of which is pretty much immaterial.
It doesn't take long for Ed to get sick of this. He moves over and, grabbing the man's jacket, hauls him slightly more upright.] Cut the crap! It's a yes or no question!
[It's also a question their prisoner obviously doesn't feel like answering, because the only response forthcoming is a continued stream of graphic and interminable cursing.
Privately, Ed tries to remind himself of the reasons just punching this guy isn't going to help their cause, and finds he can't remember any.]
no subject
[Honestly, the priorities of some people! Panicking and getting frustrated isn't going to do anyone any favors, but things sure do seem to be getting worse and worse. With conspirators and well-meaning crew members alike possibly coming after them--not to mention two unsecured doors--it's too late to try taking anything close to the delicate approach.]
Here, let me try.
[Al's methods of questioning are generally less violent than Ed's, but no less terrifying. There's something to be said for being tall enough to dangle a grown man several feet off the ground. Al kneels down beside Ed and their captive, his voice dipping to its most serious.]
Listen, Mister-- [But a close look at the guy stops him cold. With only an old black and white photo from 1883 to go on and the dim light obscuring things further it's hard to be sure, but...]
Brother, you think this is him?
no subject
[The last part, accompanied by a glower, follows an extra-spirited struggle from their captive and a small ripping noise from the inside of his jacket - apparently he doesn't appreciate being talked about like a wanted man any more than the rest of his situation. Things aren't out of hand just yet, but literally or figuratively Ed expects that to change any moment now. He redoubles his grip.]
If he is, what do we do? We can't play twenty questions out here forever. [He glances at the door, then back the way they came - still clear, and he can't hear anyone approaching either, whatever that's worth with all the waves rolling in the background.] And if he doesn't shut up before we find somewhere safe...
Latest ever
If he won't cooperate then we'll just have to search him. They identified his body from an ID, right? So he should still--
[Even out of context that proves to be a pretty horrific thing to say, driving the man's escape attempts all the way up from wild and angry to downright desperate. Al inwardly flails at his own lack of tact.]
Sorry, I'm sorry! It's really not what it sounds like!
never late!
[He sighs, and yanks their captive a little closer to look him in the eye before he escapes.] Okay, enough of this. Listen. [He even sounds slightly apologetic.] There's not much time, but we can explain, I swear. Just promise us one thing.
[It's an ominous thing to say, and the man hesitates, by now looking almost as fearful as he is furious. He doesn't actually get to hear what the one thing is, though, because this is the point where Ed lets go and clocks him upside the head with his automail fist. Like the workers in the cargo hold before him, the man crumples.
Ed, apparently unconcerned, gets to his feet.] Pick him up, Al. [He starts to walk back the way they came.] We can search him once we're not expecting company.
[Of course, back the way they came is the place they were attacked to begin with, but there's not really much of a choice...]