#xing thoughts

[xing-side]

Fun Fact: FMAB drew the Xingese bodyguard uniform incorrectly

In the 3rd ending animation and during the episodes taking place during the Promised Day, the uniform is drawn with the top being a solid mass of shirt

But if you read the manga, its clear the top is actually supposed to open at the front like a martial arts gi.

This isn’t a case of simple anime-manga differences either, it’s a legitimate error because the anime drew the uniform correctly in episode 18, when Fu is shown preparing to escort Maria Ross to Xing.

Oh the things you catch when you obsessively search for references. 

[xing-side]

Ling and the Emperor

In the FMA Brotherhood anime, Ling reveals himself to Ed and Al as a prince from Xing immediately after the scuffle with Lan Fan and Fu. But in the manga, Ling takes a bit longer to disclose that fact about himself.

In the manga, Ling brings up the details of his heritage for the first time after Al prompts him in this scene here, which was not included in Brotherhood:

We all know that life wasn’t rosy for Xing’s many royal half-siblings, who are all pitted against each other over who gets to succeed the throne. But it speaks volumes that even though Ling’s goal is to impress his father the Emperor enough to gain his favor, Ling very flatly states that he and his father have never even spoken with each other. It makes me wonder if the Emperor interacted with any of his (43) children at all. And if so, which ones and why them? And what do the other siblings feel about their familial situation? I think it’s interesting that Ling takes this fact very nonchalantly; he doesn’t seem pleased about it, but also doesn’t appear to have any strong feelings about it either. For him, it is what it is. In that way, it could be said he’s more like Al than Ed with regard to absentee fathers. Or he could just be hiding his feelings which would also be in character at this point since it seems he’s avoiding saying unnecessary information. (side note but Ling’s “you guys are imagining all kinds of things about my life aren’t you” -  WELL YEAH LING IT’S KIND OF HARD NOT TO WHEN THE INFORMATION THE PROVIDED ABOUT YOU AND YOUR COUNTRY IS SO SCANT. We fans are instead forced to come up with our own speculation.)

[xing-side]

Xing deserved its own spinoff series

Like I get it. Fullmetal Alchemist was always meant to be Ed (and Al’s) story. That’s why its called ‘fullmetal alchemist’. That’s why the story is so heavily concentrated on their struggles, and ended when they met their goals (got their bodies back).  But come on Ling is the hero of another story that’s SCREAMING to be told. The 12th son of the emperor of an enormous country with an extremely uncomfortable political situation, striving to inherit the throne and be a good leader to his people. You can’t tell me that isn’t its own story right there. Even Mei could be framed as the hero/ine and the story would still work very well.  In fact, Ling & co seriously feel like they come from another manga or something, which just happened to have this enormous crossover event when they stepped into Amestris. It feels like there should be a companion/parallel story out there.... and there isn’t. 

[xing-side]

Xing age count

Considering the time period, I suddenly wondered if Xing uses something like the traditional age counting system that was used in various parts of East Asia, where a person’s age is 1 at birth rather than 0. This system was once used in China and Japan before westernization, and is still used today in Korea and Vietnam. ....which would make Ling actually 14 instead of 15 by western age counting during the series, and would add even more insult to injury for Ed’s pride once he found out. And Greed would be even more appalled, THIS BODY BELONGS TO AN INFANT!!!    in this system there was also the concept of a universal birthday where everyone’s age changed at the turn of the New Year, so then it would be possible for Ling to be 13 by western age counting if his actual birthdate were closer to the end of the year, but that’s probably pushing the envelope way too far so if I stick with this idea I’m probably gonna ignore that bit.

[xing-side]

I’m so ridiculously hyperfixated on the Xingese crew and trying to figure out Xing as a country (like, how much of it is China and how much of it is other parts of Asia) that I’ve largely identified most of the probable parts of Lan Fan and Fu’s bodyguard uniform in detail, and even what probably inspired Ling’s grenade purse thing.  expect a detailed post about this later. 

[xing-side]

i hadnt thought about that w Greed, ur probably right tho he is a hero people might just think of him as a monster... also it occurred to me the whole 50 concubines system was probably just established to keep the clans scheming against each other for a fair shot instead of against the throne... i def believe Ling would instead try to convince them itd be better to unite but itd be a long road, i believe in him tho!

Yeah, that’s basically the case. The 50 wives system led to all the emperor’s kids basically out for each other’s necks. Mei is a roughly 10-12 years old girl trained in a medical art who clearly has an enormous heart and cares about people, and yet she was ready to take an opportunity to kill Lan Fan when she was down, and Lan Fan was gonna return the favor. Ling also admitted that he’d had assassination attempts on him which is why he fights dirty. This was clearly a system breeding nothing but deadly relationships among people who were not only supposed to be from the same country but people who should have viewed each other as family. This is why it’s so important that Lan Fan and Ling decided in the end that it would be better to unite the clans instead.

They have a lot of work to do. They have so many things they have to think about to possibly make it work. They’re basically trying to do what Roy Mustang and his crew are trying to work for in Amestris, but on an accelerated timeline and on a much grander scale… While also only being teenagers!!! ROY IS 30 DURING THE PROMISED DAY AND HE STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE BECOMING FUHRER, BUT LING IS EMPEROR BEFORE HES EVEN 20.

JESUS CHRIST THESE KIDS NEED A BREAK.

[harrowing-enchantment]

Not that anyone cares but

Hello. I just wanted to say that its really lonely here. I want to make friends, maybe some friends with benefits but really just friends. Every time someone reblogs those things that are like 'come and talk to me' and I try to do just that... its like they're all aimed at other people. I guess I'm not good enough, and I'm not saying this for attention. I'm just really lonely and I'm kinda upset about it.. {sighs} I don't even know.. don't mind me.

[harrowing-enchantment]

Typist?

[yes sweetheart?]

Am I too clingy?

[darling everyone is clingy.]

But am I too clingy?

[No I think not, you miss the people you love, that's completely normal.]

Then why is everyone leaving me behind? Why is Master leaving me? Why did Jonghyun go away? Why did Chulyonggie leave?

[-holds him close- I don't know Xing, sometimes... no matter how much it hurts, you gotta let people go even if it feels like your world is ending.]

{sobs quietly} kill me... p-p-please typist it hurts t-too much.

[I will do no such thing, I will always love you, Xing. No matter who leaves, I will always be here for you.]

{whimpers} I want my Master back...