Below are the 2 most recent journal entries recorded in Henrika's LiveJournal:

Saturday, December 10th, 2005
12:59 am	Understanding Mr. Elric hates the rain more than anything. It was something I first noticed after spending time with him in Europe. The weather could range from snow to sleet to sunshine, but I think he truly hated rain the most. He never explained why, never really said anything about it. I noticed it here too and confronted my counterpart about it. Roy Mustang gave me one of the most mysterious looks I have ever seen him (or myself for that matter) wear. “It’s several things I’d imagine.” “Care to elaborate?” It wasn’t like me to be so abrupt or sarcastic, but this has been bothering me since before I came to this world. Roy sighed, then stood and checked outside his office door before locking it. I realized that whatever he was going to explain, he didn’t want Mr. Elric to know about it. “You see, Full Metal has had a wide variety of things go very wrong for him in the rain. Has he ever spoken to you about the night he lost the limbs his auto-mail replaces? Or ever explained the term ‘chimera’ to you? Ever mentioned a man named Scar? Or complained of the pain in his auto-mail when the weather shifts?” I seized on the last one, as it was the only thing that I could understand. “He always knows when it’s going to rain or when the weather is about to shift. And the auto-mail, well…he said that was a mistake, but he didn’t explain further.” “Ah.” Roy said quietly, then under his breath, “Still carrying the weight of your sins are you Edward?” “Do you know what happened?” “Only Edward knows what truly happened that night. If he has failed to explain it to you, it is because he does not want to trouble you with it.” “But…” “But you want to understand his pain in order to help him don’t you?” I stared at him for a moment and he let out a short laugh. “It appears that we are far more alike than I ever imagined. You have to realize though, that Edward isn’t a person who opens up and lays his burdens on others. He tries to take as much guilt upon himself as he can in order to find some sort of peace in ‘equivalent trade’.” The words sparked something in my memory, a conversation between two people. I remember them saying that they didn’t believe in equivalent trade anymore. I remember Mr. Elric’s voice and…nothing. Absolutely nothing after that. Roy is looking at me oddly and I shake off the strange feeling that the blackness left me with. I remove my hand from my chest and wonder when I fisted it in my shirt. “Full Metal will open up only when something threatens to truly break him. If you happen to be the one he opens up to, embrace that fact. It’s one of those rare occurrences in life.” The wistful tone in his voice makes me wonder if Mr. Elric ever opened up to Mustang. (Comment on this)
Friday, October 21st, 2005
8:36 pm	Something I wrote for the alter!series Roy’s language lessons with Masuta began to occur in all sorts of forums. Roy’s office, the park, the Elric’s. The lessons began to run progressively later as both men became engrossed in their studies and it so happened that they were with the Elrics that evening when one of their lessons ran very late. “Look, just don’t stay up all night.” Edward had finally said, unable to stifle the yawn that had been plaguing him all evening. Al had gone to bed hours before. He had rose, sniffing indignantly when he realized both men were ignoring him. He’d muttered a low curse and stalked off to his bedroom. Masuta finally noticed his absence after a good ten minutes. “Mr. Elric?” He questioned the empty chair. “I believe he got annoyed with us. He’s probably asleep by now. That boy can sleep like a rock when he does.” Masuta smirked as he realized Roy also knew about Mr. Elric’s tendency to study until his eyes watered or until he was in danger of drooling all over his research. “It is rather late.” Roy said as he glanced up at the clock on the mantelpiece. “We should probably pack it up for the night. Though I must say, you’re improving rather well.” “Funny how that happens when your teacher isn’t trying to make you look like an idiot.” Masuta laughed sheepishly. The two men heard the low noise at the same time and Roy’s hands unconsciously went to his pockets before he even thought about it. “Where’s it coming from?” Masuta whispered. “It sounds like Ed’s bedroom.” The pair nodded at one another and began to move as quickly and as quietly as they could towards the blonde’s bedroom. Masuta uneasily picked up the fireplace poker as he went. He had heard enough filtered details from enough people’s stories to know that there were many people who hated Edward and would like nothing better than to see him dead. The word struck a funny chord inside the Japanese man and he clutched at his chest for a moment without realizing it. Roy looked back at him warily and he snapped out of his trance. They stood outside of Edward’s bedroom door for a moment, listening to see if they could grasp who was inside. Mutterings were heard from the room, but it sounded like one voice. And Masuta suddenly recognized the words. “Don’t worry.” He motioned for Roy to put away his gloves and the elder man did so reluctantly. “Mr. Elric is talking in his sleep. In Deutsch. I had forgotten that he did that.” “Ah.” Roy relaxed. “What’s he saying?” Masuta listened for a moment and couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face as he translated for Mustang. “How dare you call me a pint-sized speck who could drown in a drop of ale?” “Some things never change.” Roy sighed. “Even if he’s grown some, he’s probably going to be touchy about his height for the rest of his life.” “Wait, there’s more.” Masuta shushed. He absorbed the words and only just contained himself from bursting into laughter as he translated. “Darn cats! Everywhere I go! Alphonse, Masuta, it doesn’t matter! No matter what world I’m in one of them is covered with cats!” “It appears you are torturing the young man with your love for animals.” Roy snickered. Masuta shushed him again, but suddenly the Japanese man’s face lost its color, something Roy caught even with only one eye. “What’s he…?” But Masuta refused to translate. Roy listened at the door as well and heard the almost feverish sobbing words from the other side. “Der Vati! Der Vati! Mach schon! Der Vati! (1)” Masuta wrenched the door open and ran to Edward’s side, where the boy was writhing under the covers. He grabbed Edward and held him, no small feat when the shorter man was struggling about and flailing his auto-mail. “Edward!” Masuta said loudly, hugging the boy protectively. Edward continued to fight against him and Masuta looked pleadingly back at Roy, who had been frozen in the doorframe. “Edward!” Roy grabbed onto Edward as well, unwillingly noticing the tears streaming down the boy’s face; tears that he didn’t understand. The boy was slow to calm down, but he finally opened bloodshot golden eyes and caught sight of Masuta. “Der Vati. He’s…we have to go back.” But Masuta was shaking his head. “No, we can still do something. Please.” Roy had the feeling that he shouldn’t be watching this. He should not hear that broken tone when Full Metal was the one using it. Masuta shook his head again. “He’s already…isn’t he? He’s…I saw him and…” At this Masuta nodded his head. “I’m sorry.” Edward’s eyes went wide at that before he buried his face in Masuta’s chest, sobbing unashamedly. Roy rubbed the boy’s shaking back with a growing sense of helplessness. Masuta was the only one who understood what Edward was talking about, the words he had screamed in his sleep. The language barrier was separating him from helping the boy, something that reminded him that he hadn’t been able to help the boy much when he had had the ability. Masuta caught his eye and his distress. “[italics]It’ll be alright.[/italics]” Ichiro said in Japanese, not surprised when both the other two relaxed. The tension dissolved from the room as something all three of them understood was forced past the language barrier. “[italics]I miss him.[/italics]” Edward said softly. “[italics]We’re with you now.[/italics]” Roy said, still missing parts of the puzzle, but now, finally, able to help. It was something all three of them could understand. (1) Dad! Dad! Come on! Dad! (3 Comments |Comment on this)