FMA Vignette; Envy-centric

[swordage]

I started playing with words rather idly - this is good, as I tend to go overly-flowery when I'm getting back into my writing groove. I dare say no more. Knock on wood! And also the style does not fit the POV at all, but oh well. Also also, this proves my obsession with Envy's form.

The cruel twist of his brother's lips makes his skin shudder. That thin-stretched sadistic smile would better fit a beast of prey, not a man or woman or babe or whatever flesh sin wears for the day. Dark hair, fair skin, white teeth, blunt nails; it's all a second skin, a tight fit over the nude gibbering mass that spewed forth from the Gate. There's an art in the details – the curl of toes, the softness behind a knee, the elastic stretch of skin over muscle, the limber flex of vertebrae, the cushioned rotation of an arm connected to socket to shoulder blade to collarbone to sternum with ligament and tendon and muscle and cartilage. A golem of blood and hair and rock, built in man's image. Nothing can mar the mirror's surface but a slash from inside out – no blood will spill, just bright quicksilver from frozen veins.

They are cold, homunculi and their sins, but Envy is the coldest and cruelest of all, the summation of the parts. The hot need of Greed is supplanted by the blinding rage of Wrath, the aching empty of Gluttony added to the slow burn of Lust and the calculating, agonizing rightousness of Pride matched with the desire for unchanging static eternity of Sloth. Envy is all this, and it tears him apart with every breath his manufactured body does not need.

Comments

[loreamara.livejournal.com]

This is lovely. ^^ I really like your description of the Sins themselves, what makes each of them unique. I'd never thought of it that way but it's a brilliant fit.

[swordage]

I hadn't really thought of it that way either. XD I just started playing with my adoration of Envy's powers - I mean, really, his chosen form is only human in appearance, and barely that. To do half the things he does, it's gotta be made really strangely. But thank you! I'm glad you liked it!

[laylah.livejournal.com]

Mmm, have you been following the manga? That came up a couple of chapters ago, how much Envy is hiding of his "true" nature when he puts on that "cute form."

And I like all the pretty words in a row, too. There's a poetry, a rhythm to it, that's really pleasing.

[swordage]

Neuuu, now I want more manga. ;_; Why must it be so shiny. Envyyyy. He's so simple and yet so complicated.

See, the funny part is that I do not get poetry. I think it's just prose with funny line breaks.

[laylah.livejournal.com]

manga scanlations (http://groups.msn.com/FullMetalAlchemist/fullmetalalchemistmanga.msnw). It'll take ages before the chapters I'm talking about are released over here. ^^;

*helpful*

[swordage]

Thankee! I've been buying the Japanese tankouban slowly, because all the English stuff for FMA is sucking moderately to hard. Like the DVDs. Geez, people, at least pretend you're not using the dub script for the subs instead of actually translating it. *is keeping the fansubs*

[forgottenlover.livejournal.com]

Envy, the everything and nothing of his siblings... ::hugs::

[swordage]

Or something? ^^; I think the comments on this are deeper than the piece. I just like pretty words in a row.

[forgottenlover.livejournal.com]

well, that's just how I view Envy ANYWAY.... eh heh?

[pinstripesuit.livejournal.com]

Mmmm... anatomy lust... yes... I love the descriptions of his body, nerdy little art student that I am. *wuvs all over you*

And all the descriptions of the Sins at the end, yes... *will never stop loving FMA*

[swordage]

Whee! Wuv! ♥ FMA is good for bizarre glee and anatomy lust. I'd do the same with Greed, but he just doesn't think about stuff like that. Not like I do, at any rate.

[axiom_of_stripe]

There's an art in the details – the curl of toes, the softness behind a knee, the elastic stretch of skin over muscle, the limber flex of vertebrae, the cushioned rotation of an arm connected to socket to shoulder blade to collarbone to sternum with ligament and tendon and muscle and cartilage. A golem of blood and hair and rock, built in man's image.

yummy. i love how this hits envy's shapechanging as essential to his nature rather than a convenient trick.

[swordage]

Yesss. And it's so much more than changing appearances - he makes whole beings, plays God within the sphere of his influence. Ah, I love Envy in so many ways.

[tookhernowhere.livejournal.com]

Very very shiny. You win so much for the golem metaphor! <3

[swordage]

It took me like, ten minutes to think of the right word. "Chimera? No no... That one's taken. Colussus, no, uh, rock thingy animated manlike being uh... golem!" And then I was like, "Rock is cold. (Well, okay, a good conductor of heat, but!) Let's go with cold imagery! Metal is cold! Metal is shiny! Oooh, quicksilver/mercury is metal and shiny and is also a nice comment on his death, and can be substituted for other liquid things like blood! Yay imagery!"

Yes, that is my actual thought process.

[empty-geas.livejournal.com]

Just... damn. Such and absolutely fascinating and perfect look at not just what Envy can do but how much it defines what he is and vise-versa. A fine crafting of artistry and skill forged from every kind dark wisp of bitter and suffering emotion that has been turned out. And all self made from the raw stuff of gate-spawned chaos. He's such a wonderfully twisted little simulacra, as you show only too well.

[swordage]

Simulcra! That's the word I wanted! *pout* I was gonna use another golem metaphor, but I can't reuse words that closely together, and I couldn't remember simulcra. But thank you - it always gives me a little fuzzy glee when you like things, because damn do you have good taste. XD

[flame-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

Damn, why can't I discuss things intelligently? -____-;; Anyways, yeah, you pushed mah happy buttons without overloading my tired brain..^____^ Mad props to ya, yo! >3 Your description of the Sins would've taken me hours to do..Y_Y Nice. *gives thumbs-up*

[swordage]

Wheee! Smarts for tired people! XD Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all night!

[flame-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

*whimper-wibble* Not 'til Thursday?

[swordage]

Oh, I suppose. Just for you.

[flame-of-chaos.livejournal.com]

YAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! ^\/\/^ *wags tail and dances happily* I'm spay-shul!

[allegratheneko.livejournal.com]

wsome job! That describes them all so well. FMA SCANLATIONS!! *luffs you*

[gribouille.livejournal.com]

Woow I love your POVs *___*

[lady-sinistra.livejournal.com]

no blood will spill, just bright quicksilver from frozen veins

Mmmmm... gorgeous. Fuckin' gorgeous!