OPEN RP POST (wip)

[onegreeneye]

This is a general catch-all post for anyone who wants to thread with Ginko in his original setting - or at least something resembling it. Want to play an AU? Post-jamjar? Unexpected interdimensional travel? It's all good! In addition, if you want to thread something with mushi and such but in a more modern setting, I'm totally open to modern-day AU's. I'm fine with prose, brackets, whatever.

Please note that I'm totally open to using this post for action, fluff, whatever, but not smut. If you have any additional questions about the setting or types of mushi, just message me on this account!

(here's a placeholder for if i ever get around to putting actual prompts on here)

Comments

[onegreeneye]

There are still bits and pieces that Ginko doesn't understand here - all this talk of other worlds, alchemy and catalysts and tolls, is pretty clearly delving into territory that he isn't quite familiar with. But he's gradually getting some idea of what Ed is talking about.

He gives a small nod, and, for a moment, his gaze settles again on the stream of golden light flowing from Ed's shoulder.

"...So that's what you intend to use it for." His gaze flicks back to Ed's face, the surprise and curiosity from a moment ago settling back into his usual look of matter-of-fact neutrality. "Tell me, then. Do you have any theories as to what this 'catalyst' actually is?"

[solperierat]

Edward frowns and raises an eyebrow, considering Ginko seriously for the first time since he'd seen the man. They've been dancing around the subject, but Ed is fairly sure this strange, white-haired man knows something about what he's looking for. There's not much other reason that he would sound so...protective of whatever this catalyst is. It's not a big part of him, but Ed's starting to realize he may have stumbled into something stranger than he realizes.

For a moment, Ed's mind goes back to that time in the Fifth Lab, when the containers holding the incomplete Stone had shattered and he'd been caught in the rush of energy that had flowed from his fingertips. When he'd tried to tap into that catalyst from a distance...it hadn't been a dissimilar experience. "...there's one thing that it feels similar to, but I don't see how they could possibly be the same thing. Not in a place like this." And like hell he's about to admit outright to this man just what that 'something' is.

[onegreeneye]

Ginko gives a quiet hum, sliding his hands into his pockets. "Can't be sure about that 'something'. But I think I know what you've sensed here.

"I mentioned the light vein earlier - you didn't listen then, but I would really suggest you do now." He crouches down, one finger tapping at the ground below him. "The light vein is an underground river of sorts; it can't be reached merely by digging, but it is there. It isn't made up of water, either.

"The substance flowing through it is known as kouki - it's the essence of life itself, in the form of a liquid. Areas with a strong light flow will flourish, though, if it's too strong, it may become overwhelming to humans. If the flow is too weak or far away, life will wither and die on the surface.

"There is a strong light vein in this area; I believe that may be the catalyst you've sensed. And your attempts to access it are disrupting both your body and the vein itself."

[solperierat]

Thankfully he does listen this time, frowning thoughtfully while Ginko explains. It sounds like utter bullshit, but it would explain why he can't find a trace of the thing anywhere he looks, and those odd dreams he sometimes has of that gold river.

And then things hit a little too close to home, and Ed sucks in a sharp breath. Life in the form of a liquid--no wonder it feels so much like the Stone. "But I only ever tried to use it once, and even that backfired! That's why I've been trying to find the source, to figure out a way to use it safely!"

[onegreeneye]

"Once could still create a disruption. It's a powerful substance, kept in a delicate balance. And I hate to tell you this, if you think you need it to get home, but I can't recommend trying to reach it directly."

He glances toward the door, frowning slightly. He's got his explanation now, but there's still the question of what to do about all this.

[solperierat]

Ed grits his teeth and glares at Ginko, his one fist balling up in frustration. "You're telling me to give up on the only goddamn lead I've found?!" He can't give up on this! Two years of searching and he finally has a hint, some way to open the Gate without sacrificing a town to the thing, and he has to give it up because a few trees might wilt?

[onegreeneye]

He glances back at Ed before turning to face him more fully. Despite his flat expression, as neutral as ever, there's a hint of real sympathy in his voice as he responds.

"I can't in good conscience tell you any different. It may take a bit for the fuki in this area to subside as it is; whether you mean to or not, there's no telling how much damage could be done if you keep this up."

[solperierat]

And lo, a lucky chord is struck. Edward's scowl fades a bit and his brow creases in mingled curiosity and concern. "...fuki?"

[onegreeneye]

"Corrupted kouki. And what I was called here to investigate to begin with." He nods in the direction of the village. "It's poisoning the forest, and the village with it. Your attempting to access the light flow is the only thing in this area that could explain it; everything else is in order."

[solperierat]

"Wh--the village?" Ed startles and sits up straight, eyes going wide in shock. "But--I haven't gone anywhere near there in weeks! I did that transmutation way out in the woods!"

How did this happen? He had driven them off to keep them safe! And now he'd gone and hurt them without even meaning to?

[onegreeneye]

As it happens, the explanation is pretty simple. "Rivers flow. The fuki surfaced closer to the village. It's not really your fault; just a matter of not knowing the whole situation."

That reassurance seems important here. As strange as Ed might be, and as ill-advised as Ginko may find his plan, it's seeming increasingly likely that he really doesn't mean any harm.

[solperierat]

Ed's lips press into a thin line and his gaze drops down to the floor, guilt written clearly on his features. "...just 'cause I didn't know doesn't change anything."

Realistically, he knows Ginko is right, but he can't make himself really believe it. Alphonse, Liore, his own mother...not knowing hadn't been any justification for what he'd caused. It didn't mean he wasn't responsible; not then, and not now.

For a few more moments the silence hangs in the air before Ed speaks again. "How bad is it?"

[onegreeneye]

A slight shrug. He's not going to lie about the damage that's been done; fortunately, it could be a lot worse.

"Several people have gotten sick. Some of their crops have been spoiled. It'll take a while for the village to recover, and some of the fuki will need to be cleaned up to allow the remainder to recede. But nobody has died. And, now that we know the cause and can keep it from happening again, it may well be that nobody will."

[solperierat]

He nods, slowly, letting out a shaky breath. No one is dead...he can be thankful for that at least. "...right. Is there a medicine, then, to cure the poison?"

[onegreeneye]

"Yep. Just got done with the first set of treatments. It'll take a few more to cure entirely, but those afflicted should be alright."

[solperierat]

"Good. ...I don't need any of that, do I?" He had hinted the kouki stuff was what was making him sick...

[onegreeneye]

"I doubt it. See, you've got the opposite problem." He steps a bit closer, indicating Ed's shoulder again. "You can't see it, but from the look of it... my guess would be that, when you tried to tap into the light vein, some of it clung to your body. It's still there, too. And dealing with a surplus of kouki like this is entirely different from fuki."

[solperierat]

Edward blinks and glances down to his (to him) perfectly ordinary shoulder and frowns, rubbing at it. "I can't feel anything in me..."

But that's not quite true, now that he thinks about it. His transmutations had come easier since that first try at using the light vein, being able to do more with less of his own energy. Was that part of this whole mess? "How do I get it out?"

[onegreeneye]

"There are ways to purge excess kouki from people's bodies... but it will take time." He taps his pack - he knows he's got the right medicine in there somewhere. "I've got a medication that should drive it out, bit by bit. But you'll have to keep taking it for a while."

[solperierat]

Ed frowns but nods, sighing and pushing his hair back from his face. It would be nice to be able to hike out farther than half a mile without feeling like his leg was turning to jelly again... "How long is a while? A month?"

[onegreeneye]

"...Well." Ginko shrugs and glancing away, a little apologetically. "Try three. Or six."

Sorry about that???

[solperierat]

Cue Ed nearly choking in shock. He must have heard that wrong!! "Six months?! You're be fucking kidding me, there's gotta be a faster way!"

[onegreeneye]

"Sorry, but that's really all there is." He swings the front of the box open, sliding out a drawer and grabbing some paper packets. He counts them out carefully, still not looking at Ed.

"I'll give you the medicine... just one of these a week should do. I'll come by again in three months to see if you need more."

[solperierat]

Ed groans loudly and hangs his head, watching Ginko count out the little folded packets with a look of stifled resentment. "Right...I don't have a whole lot of offer in exchange, though."

[onegreeneye]

"No problem." He finally gets enough packets of medicine counted out and passes them to Ed, offering a very slight, wry smile. "After all, I can finish my current job, thanks to you."