001 Enter the Alchemist

[snacklist]

[Sometime after the initial panic of finding himself in a strange place where books talked at you when you opened them, there were no Homunculi or anyone familiar at all, and... everything ever; much later at night after things have started to sink in, there is a polite sounding voice over the journals after a self conscious throat clearing.]

Good evening! My name is Alphonse Elric and... do any you know Brother? His name is Edward and he's the... [little] ...alchemist with a red coat.

[What more can he really say? This is still so overwhelming and ridiculous.]

...I hope I can meet you all in person soon, talking over... a book seems a bit impersonal for a first meeting. [And then, in case that made anyone think he didn't want to talk now, he hastily added:] But it's nice to meet you anyway.

[ooc: Open to all]

Comments

action forever

[snacklist]

H-Hi!

You must be Alan, right?

[is0latedthinker]

Yes, that's me. [Voice and body are incongruous!]

Good to meet you in person.

[snacklist]

It's really nice to meet you too!

[He gives a weird little bow.]

[is0latedthinker]

[Alan's not quite sure if he should bow back or not, so instead he holds out his hand to shake.]

You mentioned your brother was an alchemist? The...storytale kind? [He's confused.]

[snacklist]

We're both alchemists! Me too... and I guess there's stories about alchemists in history books.

[is0latedthinker]

Oh.

So...the lead into gold thing? That works? There's no alchemy where I come from.

[snacklist]

...It could, but alchemy isn't supposed to be used like that, it's not for personal gain.

[is0latedthinker]

Well, that's good, at least. [He knows too many people in his world who would take advantage of that, were such things available.]

What do you use it for, then?

[snacklist]

It's used for all sorts - mending things, battle, medical.

[is0latedthinker]

Medical?

As in, on people? Is that safe?

[snacklist]

Mm! As long as you know what you're doing... some people specialise in bio-alchemy.

[is0latedthinker]

Oh. [Even so, Alan doesn't feel too comfortable with that. Messing around with nature isn't much his thing. He's much more at home manipulating code instead.]

What about you?

[snacklist]

I specialise in transmuting weapons and defensive barriers.

[is0latedthinker]

[Alan nods slowly.] And your brother?

[snacklist]

He's better at offensive battle, but we studied together so we have similar strengths.

[is0latedthinker]

I bet you two make a good team, then. [He smiles.]

You must be in a military of some sort, then?

[snacklist]

Brother is, he's a State Alchemist.

[is0latedthinker]

[Alan nods. The older brother, but not the younger - probably trying to protect him.]

I see.

[snacklist]

We travel all over Amestris for it, he's the youngest State Alchemist ever.

[is0latedthinker]

That's quite the achievement. How old is he?

[snacklist]

He's nearly sixteen! But he was twelve when he became a State Alchemist.