alchemyfreak | IC CONTACT;

I should probably just say Loki, cause Loki is Loki, they're a god. They can be whatever the hell they want to be.

[ His mind drifted to the shower, he had been so lucky. He had a god...well goddess at the time treat him like he was something holy, and he ruined it. Like he ruins everything. Then he realizes Ed's speaking, and saying what he needs to hear as he strenches one of his leg out, and looked to Ed.]

I don't even know what i'm mad about, I'm just pissed about all of it. Nico's a kid, I knew he would get hurt, but he had already done whatever before he told me.

[ He made a face... shit Ed was right.]

Not...everyone... but I dont know, Nico's 16 or 17....fuck me, your right Ed. I shouldn't have done shit.

[ Both hands went into his hair as he pulled. His eyes widening as if trying to kick start his mind to process that before he tipped his head and let his hands drop.]

Dude, no, Condom's help but they wont save you from AIDS and HIV, not completely. Shit, old world. STD's get real bad by my time. After a musician got aids it became public and everyone realized it was a big deal.

[Times Ed is lucky he's not a mind reader.]

You can't hold yourself responsible for someone else's actions, and if there's anything I've learned about gods it's that well meaning or not they don't operate like us. Nico's from a world where he deals with them directly, the choices he made are on him.

[There wasn't much he could say to that, the last thing on Ed's mind at that age was sex, it was hardly a factor for him. Still, he'd been treated as an adult for many purposes since he was twelve so he'd never been very good at viewing someone Nico's age as a kid.]

There were... Protections in place in Attollo-

[Old world, it always struck him as kind of amusing the way Jason focused on that - but it was true, even with his other experiences. Ed's concept of modern was nowhere near Jay's, still he's not talking about Germany or Amestris here. Anyway, they're talking about Jason's sex life, not Ed's so back to the topic at hand, here.]

So, you're trying to help Nico by giving him advice which messed up what you had going on with Loki....

[At least, that's what he thought he was following.]

[ He was so lucky. Considering the number of times he's thought about killing his friends when they annoyed him even the slightest. He'd not do it unless he had a good reason but he's thought about it. Just a side effect of the Pit. ]

I can't but I feel like if i had said something Nico wouldn't be in this situation. Hell I might not be either. And yeah, I tried to tell Niks that, I mean he should know he's part god, but hes also hurting so that's happening. He's gotta live with it, and I shouldn't care but he's my friend and I hate seeing my friends hurt. Namely after losing one for the most part.

[ Loki had told him to stop avoiding him, and he should have taken it as an olive branch but he hadn't yet, even if he mostly went to the ball to see Loki and Hana, he had gone after Nico when he saw the argument go down.]

Tell me about Attollo.

[ He asked, since he heard about Purg more and he could use the distraction.]

Yeah. Pretty much, I advised him not to be me. I fucked up bad, Ed, and I don't want him to feel more alienated than he already does.

Edited 2018-01-04 21:14 (UTC)

[Ed would take that over the visuals of Jason in a shower with Loki, thanks.]

You'd have to know about it to say anything, sounds like you're blaming yourself for not being psychic to me. Look, I'm not saying don't care, but I can tell you from experience that Nico doesn't always take well to trying to be protective of him.

[He got the desire, he was protective of his friends too, and he knew what that impulse was like. Not everyone appreciated it though, and he had to learn that here.]

If you just want someone to listen, fine. If you want advice, I'd say stay out of it. What those two do isn't your problem, even if you care about them. You getting in the middle of it is only going to cause more problems for you, in case you haven't figured that one out already.

[Judging by the tone of this conversation he is pretty sure Jason views this as one major fuck up without Ed's help.]

As for Attollo, there's not much to tell. It was an island paradise designed to make us comfortable, after Purg it would have been a vacation except for the reason we were there. When people weren't doing what they wanted fast enough one of the gods took over, things changed from there.

[He didn't like to talk about it, and that much was probably evident by his tone and the way he kept his gaze averted while explaining. Discussing it didn't come easy and straight forward like Purg, with how well Jason could read people he could probably see the tension in Ed's posture while he talked.]

[ Well, good its more of that than shower smut. ]

I have, and as much as I want to argue it your right. I can't keep being a sounding board like this. I hate lying to people unless I have to but I feel like I have to to keep the others secrets. And fuck, Loki wants me to stop avoiding him, which I'm not really doing. I'm working a [ He moved his hands shaking them with irritation.] fucking murder case, I was sick. I am moving in here and have my brother that hates me and his younger friend living with West to deal with to. I'm fucking busy.

[ he let it pour out, he usually didn't usually talk about what he's up to but he felt like it helped paint the picture more.]

...what did the god's want Ed?

Sorry.

[Whether Jason realized it or not, Ed knew he was part of that list too. If he'd never mentioned what happened with Al things would be different, but he still regretted it - even if Jason said he should have come to him sooner about it. Jason was still talking though so rather than say anything more Ed just listened. Okay, all of that was a lot. There's a moment as Ed absorbed it before responding, carefully.]

You're no one's therapist, Todd. Sounds like you have enough of your own problems to deal with. If you're not avoiding him all you can do is say as much, and whether or not he believes you is on him.

[He wanted to ask about some of that, the brother thing for one, but now didn't seem the time. He wasn't entirely sure where Jason wanted this conversation to go and he was supposed to be here to listen to him so he shifted, focusing on the question.]

In a word? Intimacy. I was taken from a place where I spent years being told I had to redeem for my sins only to show up somewhere that expected us to sin. They tracked our progress with a mark on our face that got darker the longer we went without doing anything.

[Doesn't sound so bad compared to Purg, does it?]

It's not your problem, Ed. It's mine.

[ He spoke firmly, he didn't have to read minds to have a feeling what Ed was apologizing for, and Jason was having none of that. He ran a hand in his hair again before nodding.]

Way to many problems. I'm living that Jay Z song, that you don't know so forget it said it, but it's a song. [ He waved a hand to dismiss the thought.

Jason's eyes went large as Ed explained. ]

Holy shit was it a Gorean island? [ He hated he knew those books but it sounded like it.] What happened if you didn't, well sin. Because sorry, but i would have pegged you a virgin all the way.

It's your problem that people are telling you about their problems.

[They're going to have to agree to disagree on this one.]

Nope, don't know it.

[He'd gotten pretty used to Jay brushing off references after making them so he no longer bothered to even be confused.]

I don't know what that means, but it's hard to explain. The only thing that happened was the mark got darker, that was it. The thing is while that was going on there were changes to the weather, you couldn't get warm enough unless you were with someone. Practically as soon as I arrived they tried to starve us into it. It was all pretty unpredictable, I went blind for three weeks...

[A beat before seeming to realize the last thing Jay said.]

What's that supposed to mean?!

I'm told that's what friends do. I'm just not good at it, I guess.

[ He shrugged some. When he was small he never really had friends. He didn't connect to people his age well, and when he came back it wasn't much better. Roy and Kori had been his first real friends and they were Dick's first. So he wasn't the best at it. ]

I figured. Don't worry about it.

[ Jason just stared a minute and then shook his head some.]

So basically, you'd die if you didnt get nasty with someone?

[ He asked to be sure.]

You don't act like someone whose had sex before Ed. You dont even seem to notice people like that, least not that Ive seen. And I'm a trained detective.

Friends don't just dump their problems on other people. Making my problem your problem doesn't mean it's not my problem anymore, in fact it becomes my problem that now on top of my problem I've unloaded it on you.

[Was that confusing enough? Ed's used to people that aren't used to dealing with people, Jay's actually one of the better at it. It was important that Jason got this as far as he was concerned, he had talked to Jay about Al, but Jason had come to him about this Loki and Nico thing and that meant that he also had to deal with Ed now being aware of his business. It went both ways.]

Not exactly, it's complicated. They brought us in because something was wrong, so they needed us. Killing anyone wasn't really in their best interest. Even though no amount of food helped, I didn't starve to death... I know what starving feels like from when I was a kid so I didn't give in like everyone else, if anyone was going to die there I would have then. The blizzard in August, the closer you were to someone the warmer you felt. Fire did nothing, clothes did nothing, being half metal wasn't a deal breaker either. A bunch of us got together and did research for awhile, we weren't sure if we'd die or not at this point so to help a friend I sat on her couch and held her hand. It was enough to keep us from freezing to death, that's all.

You know that igloo I made last month at the cabins? It didn't matter if we were inside or outside, three of us built an igloo together and we were just as warm as three people crammed into a room.

[So, no Jason. No 'getting nasty' required. As for the last part, well he couldn't really fault the logic. He hadn't thought about it, outside of Taiga really. Briefly when Cisco brought it up, but he didn't go around looking at people on the street or anything like that.]

I guess I don't really think about it. How am I supposed to act, exactly?

[ Jason looked at him a moment, he understood exactly what Ed meant but he just didn't expect to have someone say that to him. Raking a hand through his hair again he sighed some and nodded. He wasn't bothered by Ed knowing his business, in fact that didn't bother him at all. He trusted Ed. A lot more than he trusted most people right now. ]

Point. [ He grumbled while Ed started to explain the sex-love-boat-island-thingy. A symathetic look crossed his face at hearing Ed knew what it was like to go hungry. He listened intently, and knew if he was in Ed's place he would have done whatever it took not to feel that way. That was one of his few true fears anymore. Leftovers from his childhood. Despite not going hungry in years he had issues with it.]

Jesus Ed. [ he muttered, instead of pushing the idea that that didn't explain a lot, it pushed enough of any idea for him to get the bigger picture.] I don't even know what to say to that... beside's I get that, the hunger thing, and as Long as you live with me you aren't going to go hungry again. AS long as this world doesn't take pointers from that one.

As for why I thought you were a virgin, your more reserved and I haven't seen you even cast eyes at someone. Not a joke or comment, its just I watch people its part of what Batman trained us to do, and you breach the basics of how a person usually acts. Its not a big thing, I mean, I guess I sound sexist even saying shit like that, so forget it, yeah?

[It was less about trusting Jay with his business and more about now Jason was burdened with that business, that was part of unloading a problem on a friend, after all. On top of dealing with their own shit, they now had your shit to deal with. That wasn't how Ed liked to operate, not after years of being used to having no one but Al, but he'd learned to be more open in his years away from home.]

It wasn't a big deal, really. When we were kids our Teacher left us on an island, we learned how to hunt and fish pretty quick after that.

[As for Attollo, well...]

Being blind was probably the worst of it, I couldn't even transmute reliably so I had to take a break from work, alchemy, everything. I spent the time researching. Anyway, as long as this place doesn't take pointers from the other ones, I think we've got it covered. You know you're welcome to use the kitchen whenever.

[Yes, he did just use Jay's own words. He nodded back toward their own apartment, with their walk in fridge and freezer already stocked with plenty of food. At the last part his eyebrows rose curiously.]

Virgins don't look at people?

[Sorry Jay, not forgetting it. You opened this can of worms.]

I want to say that's fucked up, but B put me through hell my six months of training to be Robin. I didn't think I'd survive it, but I'm stubborn. At least I'm told so, I dont think so.

[ Lies, he knows he's stubborn as hell. But it did earn Ed more respect from him. He nodded before finally cracking a grin.]

You saying your hungry, Elric?

[ he asked teasing before rolling his eyes.]

Of course not. I'm kidding, I'm being an idiot about it, jeeze. But fine you want to stay on this, fine, tell me about your sex life then. That's something normal guys do. Least from my understanding.

[ He motioned a hand forward as he pushed himself up to go to his fridge with actually had a few things in it but most importantly, half a pizza and a four pack of red bull.]

You're stubborn.

[No arguing, Jay. You're stubborn. Says the Elric.]

Stubborn's how we survive.

[He blinked at the grin followed by the question, but only shrugged in response. Not that he's going to turn down food, but it was an open invitation not a request.]

Nah, I'm just saying. We've got that huge kitchen, might as well make use of it whenever you want.

[When Jason took the bait Ed was dealt more than he bargained for, head tilting curiously at Jay's words as if trying to sort that response before working out a reply.]

If neither one of us are normal and we're only doing it because it's what's normal, is it really worth it?

[As long as he's analyzing this and not thinking about it directly he's not going to get flustered. This is fine. Then another thought occurred to him.]

Do you actually want to know or are you calling my bluff?

[ Jason shrugged, facts were facts.]

It's part of being Gotham bred. And a Todd, my old man was worse.

[ A touch of bitterness in his tone, as he brought the cold pizza over and sat it on the floor with them, with two energy drinks before opening the box and motioning for Ed to have some. It was a Hawaiian pizza, he was one of those weird people that liked pineapples on pizza.]

Remember you said that when you find me baking at 3am one morning. [ he quipped before lifting a piece and taking a bite. He swallowed before replying.] It's not but it keeps eyes off of us, and I can't be Bruce and live a double life, so I just start rumors about myself.

[ He admits to Ed.]

Both, both is good. Spill it Elric.

[Neither one of Ed's parents seemed particularly stubborn, at least not in the face of the stubbornness their children possessed, so Ed didn't comment on that except to offer a bit of a nod.]

I guess being from Risembool might have something to do with it, my best friend growing up is the most stubborn person I know.

[Someone show him a mirror.]

You can bake whenever you want, we don't live in the kitchen anymore.

[That part's said with a bit of a grin, remembering the huge deal Jason had made about the layout until he saw that it was a loft.]

I meant- talking about it. If we're only sharing because 'that's what guys do', why bother?

[It seemed like Jason needed the clarification there, but maybe it was Ed that was missing his meaning. He wasn't concerned about whatever rumors Jay started about himself and honestly, the idea that people couldn't read him one way or the other suited him just fine too. He'd already lifted one of the cold slices of pizza to his mouth when Jason finished speaking, pausing mid-bite to look over it at him curiously before quirking a brow.]

You do know I don't know a thing about how this works, right? What, exactly, do you want to know?

[Why is this happening. Why are you like this, Jason.]

I'd say I'd trade Risembool for Gotham, but nah. I couldn't survive in the country. I could but I don't want to. Gotham's in my veins.

[ Even villains had commented on it before, even as Robin, Jason ozzed Gotham. He breathed it's smog walked in its darkness and basked in its filth. It was deeply part of who he was. Half of why he became a crime boss was to protect his city from the freaks that wanted to take her from him. ]

Fucking finally, so are you guys in the same room or... ya know separate after the fight?

[ He may have been drunk as a skunk that night, but he remembered the conversation.]

Becuase what else are we going to do? Watch Golden Girls and play cards?

[ He shrugged taking a drink of his red bull before he blinked some.]

Really? Never? Ugh Ed. Fine, let daddy teach you how it's done. So, let me tell you about Rose Wilson. The daughter of the worlds greatest ASsassin, by the by. We didn't last long but, fuck we burned like a wildfire. That woman had a way with knives. She knew how to make a man come undone before the clothes ever came off.

[ He couldn't help the dorky smile, and yet, he was clearly still trying to speak respectfully of her, because he would never forget Gloria. Or what happened to her.]

I grew up there and I'm not sure I could survive in the country anymore.

[It was a little odd to think of it that way, Risembool was always home but at the same time it hadn't been home in so long. Even without factoring in the whole multiverse concept, just being on the road for years made rural pretty boring. At the question Ed glanced away, shrugging a shoulder.]

Everyone has their own room, that was always the plan. Whether or not they use it is on them. We haven't been sharing though, that's why we've been back on Floor Six, kind of stopped needing the big bed.

[Jason, if Ed's eyebrows quirked any higher he'd lose them completely.]

We could play cards, but what's Golden Girls?

[He'd mop the floor with you in cards, Jay. Sorry. As Jason continued Ed turned his focus back to his pizza, completely oblivious to the weird bias people had about pineapple.]

Yeah, sorry. Where I was before here we didn't really talk about any of that, for obvious reasons.

[Obvious to him anyway, everyone was sleeping with everyone for the most part, talking about it created jealousy. Just look at Jason's situation and how fucked up that got, there was a reason Attollo was more or less "don't ask, don't tell."]

Pretty sure everyone in Purgatorium was more focused on staying alive and sane to worry about-

[A faint blush before he shrugged.]

I didn't have any experience back then, anyway. And don't-

[This part was said with a point, finger jabbing at Jason as if that made the words that much more of an impact. What the fuck is wrong with you, Todd.]

Ever call yourself 'daddy' in my presence again.

[Still, he listened. Waiting for how this was relevant, because so far nothing Jason said was anything more than insinuation, and Ed still didn't see the point of all this. Even if that alone was enough to be awkward in his book.]

I try to not be in Gotham much anymore, but it always calls me back. Much as I cant stand B, I always come when he calls, but Gotham is poison to me as much as it's part of me.

[ Jason explained since it was the best he could offer in understanding. Though he nodded to the fact they weren't sharing a bed, arching a brow some. Ignoring Ed going on talking so he could finish his peace and held a hand up then.]

Pause. Edward, are you and Al still fighting? Sex, foreplay and anything else, not important now. Talk to me, man, whats going on?

You're not there anymore, now.

[Ed was never sure who wanted to stay and who wanted to leave this place. Plenty people had given him opinions on the matter, but minds changed every day. His own had been torn on it more than once, despite his insistence that he'd choose to stay here given the option.]

We're not fighting, we're just back in the communal building. Al hasn't been sleeping with us so there didn't seem to be any reason to stay at the store until we get it finished. Everyone has their own room so they'll have to make that decision when we move out officially, that's all.

[Whatever decision was made would be on them, he wouldn't kick either of them out of his bed, and he doubted Val would willingly leave any time soon even with her own room. Al seemed to have made his choice though and it was one Ed had gotten used to years ago on another world. Ironic how they weren't on the same page again here, but for different reasons.]

I hope I never go back...but my team back home will need me eventually. The Outlaws have to have Red Hood, it's how it works.

[ He explained even if, he didn't really sound like he wanted to go home. ]

Ahh, I see, how do you feel about that?

[ He asked with a curious look as he went back to eating.]

Well, you can't go back unless you're willing. That's how it works here.

[He might sound like he was still trying to get used to that idea.]

You ever think about it not mattering? If we go back exactly where we left off, no one even knows we're missing in the first place. I've been gone for years, Al still got his body back.

[Multi-verse whatever, because Ed had done the memory canister update, so he knows it's not a matter of maybe Al's a different Al.]

Honestly? I don't know. I feel like a failure, like I let him down.

[He probably wanted to talk about this less than their sex lives.]

I just want him to be happy and I can't give him the one thing he really wants. Maybe sleeping in his own room will be good for him.

Then fuck that world, it's never done anything good for me.

[ A bitter note in his voice. Sure he'd miss his team but, a new life was here.]

It is weird, but so is being dead. You kind of get used to the weird. [ Jason takes a drink of his drink and shrugs, letting it drop.]

Maybe, hell, man, I've never seen the appeal in sharing a bed. It might be why I cant keep someone more than a handful of nights, but I'd rather be alone. Maybe space will help things?

It'll be there when you get back, might as well take your time.

[That was not really an Edward Elric mentality normally but the life and people mattered here, so as long as he was certain nothing was influenced back home? What was the sense in rushing. This place was luxury compared to where he was going, and if he could have that, with the people he cared about? He would.]

I guess it's weird if you think about it, but- I've had a lot of time to adjust. What I need to go home to do already happens. That's all that matters to me.

[He seems to take a moment to consider that response before shrugging, not looking directly at Jason.]

I never really thought about it. Val and I started out of necessity, really. With no one else around it was safer to have someone there who could watch your back. It was easier to get back to sleep if you woke up screaming from nightmares.... Al couldn't sleep before he got his body back, so I've always been used to someone being around, I guess.

[The last part is muttered quietly before taking another bite of his pizza.]

Now that he's got his body back he likes to sleep with me, but- hopefully the space will help him move on.

Edited 2018-01-18 03:28 (UTC)

I'd rather it not. Shit, I wouldn't be half as worried about the kids if I didn't know what our world does to kids. Ed, Damian's like me. He was Robin, and he died to.

[ He spoke as he looked down at the pizza, he had felt guilty carrying the weight.]

I never tried to talk to him to see if he was alright, I just let it go. I ran like I always do. Shit, your one of the first people I've really opened up to about the shit in my head. But yeah, when I get home I have to take down a general trying to take over the country I died in, so, Im in no hurry. I hate going to Qurac.

[ He spoke as he ran a hand through his hair.]

Val had your six, I get that. That person will always be important.

[ It clicks then, as he looked and made a confused face.]

Did you guys break up?

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