Fanfic: The Fly (Fullmetal Alchemist)

[nebroadwe]

Title: Drabble: The Fly
Fandom: FMA (manga version, technically, but nothing to contradict the anime)
Character(s): Ed, Al, Winry
Pairing: None.
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Warnings: None. Takes its inspiration from a conversation between Ed and Al in manga chapter 21, but without spoilage.
A/N: Third in what looks like becoming a series of drabbles about Ed, Al and Winry's childhood; the first two can be found here and here. This time I imagine it was a performance by Lon Chaney, Sr., that they saw -- one lost, alas, to this universe. Crossposted from nebroadwe to Höllenbeck (i.e. hagaren_manga, fm_alchemist, fullservicefma, fma_gen, fma_writers, fma_fiction, and winrylovers).
Dedication: For Andrew, pop-culture maven and all-around helpful guy. Thanks!

---

      After the stone ended the fly-man's torment, the children walked home, pensive and shivering in the August sunshine. "I wonder how it worked," Winry said. "That machine."

      "Alchemy?" Al suggested doubtfully.

      "You can't do alchemy on humans," Ed objected.

      "You shouldn't," Al corrected him. "But engines don't do things like that -- alchemy does."

      Ed dragged his feet, chin down. "And he wasn't trying to make a chimera -- maybe you could just disintegrate something and send it somewhere ... "

      Winry stared at him. "What're you talking about? I meant the projector, dummy."

      She broke into a run, leaving them to catch up.

---

Author's Note: It occurs to me that this drabble makes more sense if you know the basic plot of The Fly: a scientist, testing his newly-invented teleportation device, accidentally commingles his body with that of a fly. Bad Things ensue.


[Disclaimers: Fullmetal Alchemist (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi) was created by Arakawa Hiromu and is serialized monthly in Shonen Gangan (Square Enix); the anime of the same title was directed by Mizushima Seiji and story-edited by Aikawa Sho. Copyright for these properties is held by Arakawa Hiromu, Square Enix, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Aniplex, Bones, and dentsu. All rights reserved.]

Comments

[c-b-syndrome.livejournal.com]

*DIESLAUGHING*

So typical of all three of them! Ed and Al thinking of the plot, and Winry thinking of the projector. That was delightful!

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

A bit sparse, though. The more I look at it, the more I wonder if The Fly is too obscure a reference -- that most people won't get that Winry, Ed and Al are walking home from the movies. But I couldn't resist the joke. Too many other WIPs all descending into angst and misery; I wanted something to laugh at before I went back to Winry contemplating her nonrelationship with Ed ...

[domlandbubbles.livejournal.com]

Wonderful encapsulation of the three personalities!

And yay! 100 words exactly. Not many drabble writers actually do that.

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

100 words exactly. Not many drabble writers actually do that.

I try to. My usual mode of composition tends to the, um, prolix, so drabbles are a fantastic exercise in keeping it simple. It's amazing what you can do in a hundred words, if -- IF -- you can find the right words.

This piece really pushed its limits, though. I keep having to remind myself that the canonical drabble isn't all that well suited to a substantial exchange of dialogue (the usual backbone of my inspirations). The background got reduced to mere "August sunshine" so that Ed and Al could say enough for Winry to twig.

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

*DIES* Go, Winry!

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

I love chibi-Winry. She's got moxie. :-)

And, whee! More Nothing Like the Sun (http://evil-little-dog.livejournal.com/131042.html), as I finally catch up with what everyone's been posting. Now, this is a story I want to see the end of. [looks hopeful]

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

oh so very funny. I love their childhood stories (even started venturing into writing a few myself)

[grass-angel.livejournal.com]

It's all in the punchline.
Even though I had no idea what Ed and Al were talking about until I read the footnote, it was all in the punchline.
Fun in all.

[(Anonymous)]

Hee. She does, at that.

I'm working on it. And a few other scary things. I want to get chapter 25 of Marking Time finished so I can post it.

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

I want to get chapter 25 of Marking Time finished so I can post it.


I view that possibility with equal parts anticipation and dread. MT's a good read, but a tough one thus far. Now that Ed's been rescued, I can't foresee anything uplifting or even pleasant happening to any of these people for a while yet. At least only Sciezka's alone at this point, poor kid. Bare is back without brother behind it ...

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

They are an enticing bunch, aren't they? (In a writerly way, I mean.) I love tobu_ishi's drabblet about Ed's and Al's proposals to Winry (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2356021/24/) -- I couldn't imagine that scene any other way now, because that's exactly how it must have happened. (I'm such a tobu_ishi groupie. :-)

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

Phew. I'm glad it makes sense to people who don't know The Fly. I should probably add something to my author's note about the manga chapter in which chibi-Ed and -Al are discussing it so people don't think I pulled this completely out of my hat.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

they are and thanks for that link. it's so darn cute

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Uplifting? Pleasant? *giggles madly*

[orion117.livejournal.com]

Ha!

I've never seen the movie (not a horror fan), but even I knew enough about the plot to understand it, so I don't think you have to worry too much.

[c-b-syndrome.livejournal.com]

*psh!* I got it.

But then, I'm A) Old, and B) A horror movie freak. ;)

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

Age and experience always beats youth and weird hair. :-)

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

I'm picky, though: unless everybody gets it, I'm not happy. :-) I like the joke, but I'm pretty well convinced now that this is a bit too sketchy to work perfectly as a drabble. Hopefully that'll help me with the next ones I do.

[evil-kat.livejournal.com]

I caught The Fly reference. I hated the movie, but I can see why the kids were intrigued! :D Great work!

[nebroadwe.livejournal.com]

I've never seen either version of the film in full, but I was amused when it got a reference in the manga and then was struck by the image of Lon Chaney Sr. in a grainy, black-and-white silent edition. It may not have existed, but it should have ... :-)

[evil-kat.livejournal.com]

I need to check that reference again--I probably missed it the first time because I hadn't seen the film yet. Whatever you do, do NOT see the Jeff Goldblum, 1984 version.

You're right, THAT version should existed :D