Application: Russel Tringham - "Fullmetal Alchemist"

[chainedbyred]

Comments

[teamseaslug]

Osaka stares at the application, then back at the boy, then at the application again, then at the boy again. Since she moves slowly, this takes a while.

Finally she speaks up, sounding confused. "But... you're not Ed."

[chainedbyred]

He could overcome something like this easily. After all, even the people of Xenotime didn't believe him at first. "Sure I am. The newspaper doesn't always make you look like you should."

[teamseaslug]

She shook her head, still staring at him. "You look sort of like him... but you're not him. He has longer hair and he invited me to his wedding."

[chainedbyred]

Now that was something he hadn't expected. Either this girl was dumb or Ed was getting better at keeping his doings out of the public eye. "You must be mistaking me for my impostor. He's insufferable, he really doesn't get the picture."

[deadlywrenches]

Winry eyed the applicant suspiciously before smiling at him. "So, you're Edward Elric, hmm?"

[chainedbyred]

"In the flesh," he spread his arms widely as though presenting himself.

[deadlywrenches]

Winry's smile widened, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "Really... so you must know who I am, right? Since we grew up together."

[chainedbyred]

Now this would be tricky. "Of course I remember you. How could I forget?"

[rated_ec10]

"Alchemy." Preston's face was, as ever, blank. "What is that, exactly?"

[chainedbyred]

"You don't know?" he smirked arrogantly. "It's the scientific process of altering matter, based on the rule of Equivalent Exchange. Being a State Alchemist puts me among the best in the military."

[rated_ec10]

"No, I don't," he said, voice holding faint but noticeable interest. "It's not something we have where I come from." If it was anyone else talking, there might have been a comment about how the boy looked too young to be in the military. But since Cleric training started at thirteen, it was hardly out of the ordinary for Preston. "Tell me about it."

[chainedbyred]

"As a State Alchemist, I enjoy a hefty research budget, respect, and occasional ennui from the people. It also makes me a de-facto member of the military, at a rank approximately equivalent to that of Major, without the responsibilities of command." He wondered what amount of detail this guy expected. Fortunately he was well-read on the subject.

"So who are you?"

[palewhiteand]

"You're Edward Elric?" Ruby couldn't help grinning. "Really, now."

An impostor? This could be amusing. But why was he claiming to be a State Alchemist?

[chainedbyred]

She was skeptical. Hopefully this wouldn't be as difficult as with that Winry girl. "The one and only. Your eyes are not deceiving you."

[palewhiteand]

"And you're a State Alchemist?" she inquired. "How sad."

[chainedbyred]

"Because I'm supposedly a Dog of the Military? Please." He should have expected this kind of reaction.

[stylish_nebulon]

Nebulon was extremely confused -- more so than usual, even.

His once and future wife Lt. Archie Kennedy had agreed to move in with him. Yet his bed in Tootsitramp dorm was as cold as ever. Nebulon had been left all alone with his graffiti murals and his amputee-fetish magazines.

At this time of weakness, along came a young man claiming to be Ed Elric, Nebulon's secret crush. He was blond like Ed, and prissy like Ed. Yet the young man lacked what Nebulon found most compelling about Ed: the automail. The automail just added this certain je ne sais quoi for Nebulon. He'd dreamed, once upon a time, that he might induce Archie to wrap a limb in aluminum foil as a sort of automail substitute.

Now he was just baffled. He didn't know what to do. Should he make a move? Should he remain faithful to his runaway bride? Was it even worthwhile, when this guy had all his limbs intact?

Working himself into a state of existential crisis, Nebulon warbled shakily

[chainedbyred]

Russel could only stare. Stare and try to imagine what unholy union of creatures had produced a chimera like this. It was obnoxious, and really pathetic looking. And it was singing, he found himself praying to a God that he knew didn't exist to make it stop.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" his nose wrinkled.

[stylish_nebulon]

Nebulon was used to this kind of treatment. No one liked his style.

His eyestalks drooped and he made a sad wibble.

"You're as cold as ice.
You're willing to sacrifice our loooove...."

[chainedbyred]

Now it had a look on its face that kind of resembled one Fletcher had sometimes. But the effectiveness was lost somewhere between the eyestalks and the tail. Then there was the singing.

"Just. Stop."