Video [Open Post]

[seekinghome]

::When the video turns on, people get a view of Ed in the library. He's paler than normal and if people look closely at the books on the table, they'll see titles like 'Rise and Fall of the Third Reich' and others relating more specifically to the Holocaust. When he speaks, his voice isn't entirely steady.::

Well, now I know why Balthazar warned me to get the hell out of Germany. What the fuck is wrong with people?

Comments

[video]

[assembles]

[It's that stricken look on Edward's face, like he just got news that someone was dead, that first grabs Steve's attention.

Then he notices the books laid out behind him, and while he has no idea who Balthazar is, that doesn't matter much.

Steve hadn't realized what point in time Edward had been from, what year it had been when he'd ended up on Earth, but now it all clicks. Steve's demeanor is somber as he responds.]

That's a good question.

Re: [video]

[seekinghome]

::Given what he just read was done to people like his roommate, yeah, he's upset. Not that he wouldn't have been upset anyway, Alfons just makes it hit a lot closer to home than otherwise.::

I can't imagine why enough people would have believed the things that dick spouted for this to happen. While yeah, there's always going to be bigoted idiots, I never imagined something like what's in these books would happen.

::Bear with him, Steve, Ed's still trying to wrap his head around the awful.::

[video]

[assembles]

[Steve's more than willing to bear with him. Finding about atrocities like those that happened in World War II is bound to make anyone's head spin. Steve still has nightmares sometimes about the things he experienced during that time, and he doubts he'll ever shake them completely.]

There are always going to be people out there who are hungry for power, and who want to assert control over other people.

[He sighs, shakes his head slowly. The future isn't all that much better in that regard, considering the atrocity he's just had to stop.]

If someone is charismatic enough, if he can shape his words to make others trust in him, then you'd be surprised how many will follow along. But a lot of it was through making people scared, too. If you feel like you can't fight, then the only other option is to join them.

Re: [video]

[seekinghome]

::Ed has trouble formulating a response, his mind chasing its own tail in circles.::

Guy who was the head of the military back home and thence the country had people fooled. We had no idea what he was really like. Of course, it turns out he was really the figurehead so that Dad's ex-wife from... a long time ago could run things behind the scenes.

::That's all he can come up with.::

[Video]

[widows_kiss]

A question I'm not sure anyone's ever been able to answer, despite the amount of speculation.

[She doesn't miss the books that are apparently the source of his outburst, as if the reference to Germany wasn't telling enough.]

I see you've found World War II.

Re: [Video]

[seekinghome]

Yeah, I've found it. And the other things related to people going bugfuck insane.

::Ed looks down at his clenched fist and laughs humorlessly.::

Guess France really fucked up when they insisted on the terms at Versailles. Don't think that bastard would have gotten much traction without that. It's a little too bad Dad isn't here. He could use these books to help make his job easier.

Re: [Video]

[widows_kiss]

His job?

[Confusion flickers across her face for a moment, because she doesn't understand that reference and perhaps that will be an easier conversation to follow than the one that started this. Although possibly not, from the sound of Ed's laugh.]

Re: [Video]

[seekinghome]

He ended up on Earth too, although it was due to his ex-wife wanting to get rid of him. Probably because he... wasn't too pleased, shall we say, when he found out she knew about my brother and I and was messing with us.

I don't know what the hell he said in the short time before I got there, but he's been working for the Brits.

::In Germany. With these books saying what the Germans were going to do making his job easier. There are dots to be connected here, although Ed isn't going to say it out loud. At least not yet.::

[video]

[sexandoutrage]

The only good thing to come out of the war was the Manhattan Project. Kicked off the atomic age.

Re: [video]

[seekinghome]

I'm sorry, I'm still kinda stuck on the part where people like my roommate were wiped out for what they were.

::Ed's switched to a quiet fury. While yes, all that was interesting, he doesn't give a good goddamn right now.::

[video]

[sexandoutrage]

What's losing your temper at me going to do, kid? There's evil in the world. Same was true then, same is true now. Sometimes it gets a foothold. Sometimes it takes the form of a genocidal nutcase with one brass one. Sometimes it takes the form of other things.

You can get angry about the past all you want, but it doesn't change it. If you want to get mad, get mad and do something to make now easier.

[And that has been your superhero pep talk, featuring one Iron Man.]

Re: [video]

[seekinghome]

It's the past for you. Not for me. It's 1923 when I'm from. I actually can try to get something done about it. Assuming I can fucking remember if I get sent back.

::Welcome to a bigger scale of Wonderland pulling people from varying times than the smaller-ranged stuff with people from your world.::

[action]

[seekingbrother]

[Al had actually just been a few rows down doing his own looking around the history section (still nothing on either theirs or Ling's Amestris, sadly) when he heard Ed speak. He sets down his book and heads over, frowning with worry as he approaches Edward.] Brother?

Re: [action]

[seekinghome]

::Aw shit. Ed looks over at Al with a strained look.::

Don't ask. You won't like it.

[action]

[seekingbrother]

If that's supposed to make me less curious, you're not doing a very good job, Brother. [Al steps over to the table and glances at a few of the books with a frown.]

Re: [action]

[seekinghome]

Seriously. You won't like it. It makes Ishbal look like nothing.

[anomaliiiiies]

[Oh no.]

Um, I think it's because people think they can get away with being awful to others.

[seekinghome]

::After everybody else and the Tony-induced mood-whiplash, Ed's feeling a bit exhausted at this point.::

Yeah. I know not everyone from your world is insane, but Jesus Christ.

[ VIDEO ]

[embellishing]

[Well, he's not sure how exactly to answer that question, but he wouldn't be against discussing it.]

While I would love to believe that humanity as a whole is full of good people, and barring that, people who wouldn't go out of their way to harm others just for their own selfish reasons, I'm often proven wrong.

However that doesn't mean there still aren't good people.

[A pause, because he's not sure if he's lost people or if this is just a general statement.]

Though you have my condolences.

Re: [ VIDEO ]

[seekinghome]

I know not everyone is horrible. But this... ::Ed lifts a book and lets it thump back down on the table.:: Is a much bigger scale of people being horrible to each other than I've ever seen before.

[ VIDEO ]

[embellishing]

[Eames is quiet for a short, respectful moment.

Then:]

So is it only this shocking when it's a large group of people being targeted? Unspeakable atrocities happen every day and everywhere, after all.

Re: [ VIDEO ]

[seekinghome]

That's not what I meant.

::And Ed's pretty damn sure this guy knows it.::

Video;

[avoirfaim]

[ While this version of Hannibal did not experience the Nazis directly, he has had his own share of experiences with Neo-Nazis. He approaches the situation with the calm of someone who had detached himself entirely, though the memory of what could, in some contexts, consider emotional connection, lingers. ]

There is much wrong with our species, but that can be explained by understanding that humans are, essentially, animals. The majority of us will always be inclined to ignoring logic and morality for our own well-being, that innate need to protect our lives and our lineage. It takes only a handful of the mad and malicious to lead an army of sheep.

Re: Video;

[seekinghome]

Yeah, I kinda got that. ::Ed's lips press together.:: This gets to be one of the times when I really, really, don't like people.

Video;

[avoirfaim]

There isn't often much to like. The question is, what do you choose to do about it?