"Some Other Beginning" (Fullmetal Alchemist, Roy/Al, WIP, 24/45?)

[mjules.livejournal.com]

Title: Some Other Beginning
Author: m.jules
Rating: Hard R for the whole thing
Summary: "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." Alphonse Elric helps Roy Mustang face life after more tragedy than one man should endure and finds something for himself in the process.
Pairing: mainly Roy/Al, with hints of and references to others. (Including, but not limited to, Ed/Winry, Al/Paninya, Gracia/Maes/Roy/Riza, and Al/Elicia.)
Disclaimer: Arakawa would KILL me. I bow low in supplication.
Author's Notes: This was meant to be "The Story That Proves In-Character Roy/Al Is Possible." Don't know if it worked. For my 7stages claim, prompt "New every morning."

Many thanks to my betas, whose suggestions I actually remembered to incorporate this time, unlike the last chapter. *blush* Thanks to all the readers as well for being patient even when I suck at answering comments. It makes me unbelievably happy that you comment at all.

Also, I'm going to make an announcement about the future of this fic: Up until now, a chapter has been posted every week, and each chapter has been an average length of 2000 words. Beginning with Chapter 25, this will all change. Due to real-life circumstances that sadly necessitate this, I will begin posting one chapter every two weeks instead. To make this up to you, at least a little, the new average word-length for the chapters is somewhere around 3000. (We'll put it this way: 25 and 26 are both over 3200 words apiece and Ch 27 is shaping up similarly.)

Here's hoping you stick with me.

Previous chapters can be found here.

Current chapter title courtesy of the "random" button on my iTunes and the incomparable Carole King. <3

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( TWENTY-FOUR: Feel the Earth Move )