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Post by edward elric on Jun 14, 2012 0:20:06 GMT -5
After the mix up that left the young scholar in Rush Valley, Edward Elric had arrived on a train that was en route to Central City. He watched the sandy scene outside of his window with his head rested gently on his fist. Those golden eyes looked fierce as they stared out of his window, it was a nice time to think for Edward, he always had so much on his mind. Not just alchemy or Winry but the past events always came to remind him of the journey he had been on. Everything always seemed to hit him when he remembered a certain event, or saw something that jogged his memory. This time it was the train ride from Rush Valley to Central City. Last time he had been on this route it had been towards the end of the adventure of the fight against the Homonculus and basically the entire military.
Thoughts were interrupted by the sudden stop of the train. He had arrived, Ed just allowed a smile to cross his face as he left the train and began to move among the streets. First thing, first. He got himself a hotel room and put down his luggage. A break from carrying that around all day as he made his way back down the street. It wasn't long when he turned a corner and saw the common flash of light that could only be one thing. Alchemy. Ed moved through the crowd and caught the man that left the scene. An alchemist.
He moved around the other way so that it kind of looked like an accident but bumped right into him. "Sorry about that. Oh wait, you just did that alchemy back there didn't you?" He asked with an innocent laugh. Ed always loved to talk about alchemy and this was another alchemists. From the chain that connected from his belt to his pocket, the Elric brother could almost tell he was a State issued alchemists.
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Post by ashur grey on Jun 14, 2012 1:31:53 GMT -5
Ashur found himself in the road on a sunny day in Central, staring at a small accident involving two vehicles. Luckily both drivers had not been injured, but now they were standing in the intersection yelling at one another. Worst of all now a fairly busy street was being blocked and a crowd starting to form. For a few moments he simply stood there thinking of several ways to handle the situation. He could easily just notify the regular police, but if anything that would just prolong the incident, he could just turn the remains of both cars to their basic materials although he knew he would get yelled at for it.
With a slight sigh Ashur prepared himself to do the only course of actions left. Walking up Ashur took out a pair of round glasses with lenses of violet and placed them upon the bridge of his nose. In quick order Ashur focused his eyes to the a white building nearby the lenses turning the white light reflected from it into the violet color. That was when the glow of alchemy hummed to life under his clothes hidden from the many eyes around.
"Both of you back up and be quiet!"
It was a firm and authoritative voice, one that Ashur had learned to prefect soon after getting his first command over other troops so many years in the past. Once the two bickering men were cleared, Ashur's right hand began to dart about quickly, his thumb and forefinger pressed together as if he was holding a string.
In reality that was exactly what he was doing, he was manipulating a string of ultra-violet luxin. Invisible to the rest of the crowd, Ashur manipulated the string reeling it out and layering it into a simple transmutation circle over the wreckage. After he was done layering it he bent down, touched his hand to the ground and in a sudden burst of light.
The crowd all were staring forth at two cars suddenly repaired and the drivers ran up to examine their newly repaired vehicles, immediately starting to argue again of whose fault it was even as they got back in there vehicles to go about their day. That was your average human being though, no thanks. . . just rage.
In short order he unmade the luxin and Ashur simply moved on, walking away from the scene. He had other stuff to get to and in all honesty he did not want to talk to the crowd that had gathered. It seemed fate did not care about what he wanted though because not three seconds later someone bumped into him and before he could even berate them for their inattention he was assaulted with a question of if he had been the one that performed the alchemy. Turning to the questioning voice Ashur was surprised to see who it was.
Elric, Edward. . . the Fullmetal Alchemist. I suppose I had to run into him eventually. . . just wish it could have been later. . . maybe after I was in my grave.
The thought flickered through his mind for a second before he brought his emotions and thoughts under control. Ashur could not help, but feel a little anger considering that the Elric brothers were the key cause of him breaking his oath to the Furher. He knew them well enough of course from the intelligence reports he presented to the Furher and it was only because of what he knew that he did not hate them completely. Because, while he may have broken one of his oaths because of them; he also knew they were both honorable in their own way. Yes they did not follow orders like he did, but they followed most of Ashur's other unspoken rules.
"Yes Fullmetal I did, thought you retired."
His voice was monotone and perfectly controlled, it was how he normally acted around people whether he liked them or not. After all emotion in Ashur's eyes was just an advantage that people could use against him if they saw it.
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Post by edward elric on Jun 14, 2012 1:44:49 GMT -5
It was Ashur Grey, a personal alchemist for King Bradley. In a way, Ed always thought that he had left the military after the 'Promised Day'. When the man who killed him, Scar, was allowed to leave without having to pay for any crime he committed when he was a serial killer. Some ways, the Elric brother also thought that to be wrong but never made a word of it to be mentioned. Now his thought was on the present as he stared into the eyes of the man that he was now the same height with. Those dull gold eyes stared into Edward's bright golden ones. However when he spoke, it was monotone and calm just like it had always been when Ed heard him speak.
A small laugh came from the blond boy as he called him Fullmetal. "it's been two years since anyone called me Fullmetal!" He said with a bright smile on his face. No need for him to act rude. "Yea I retired after the whole. Well you know. Can't use alchemy anymore. Although your's seems to be in tip top shape. Bending Light Alchemist." Ed said with a stern voice as he stared with a fierce look, it was always nice to talk to someone like him. Especially with the skill of alchemy he held at his disposal. Being able to use light as his own way to produce alchemy and a transmutation circle.
"If you wouldn't mind. Could I walk with you for a minute? I kind of have wanted to ask you about your alchemy for a while now but this is the first time I've ever gotten a chance. Of course it's completely useless now but still. I'll trade some store secrets if you do the same." Ed said with a smile to the man, that was a common trade in Creta. If Ed would give some information up about his alchemy, then the same would be returned. Hopefully this man would repeat the same steps.
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Post by ashur grey on Jun 14, 2012 2:27:15 GMT -5
Ashur was a little amazed at the young man's reaction. The fact that he laughed and treated him like any one of the military officers he met struck a cord in Ashur. After being treated like some distant relative who had overstayed his welcome or in worse cases like some type of evil creature that might be used to scare children, it was a general shock for him to get any sort of treatment resembling actual respect.
"You are a plain citizen now Fullmetal, you are free to walk where you want."
Ashur took a few steps as if he might leave and then after a slight pause he spoke once more, his tone just a degree lighter this time.
"If we are going to talk then we might as well stop for a meal. If I recall from your do. . . from what I know of you, you always have quite the appetite."
Ashur picked up his pace again waiting for the boy to fall in beside him again. He was not sure what exactly he hoped to learn about his alchemy. He had even written books on the topic and most alchemists merely scratched their heads when trying to read them and others who got through the entire tome ended up getting everything absolutely wrong.
The Furher wanting more people with Ashur's skills had even had Ashur attempt to teach people one on one. The outcome being a dozen students that failed to even produce any luxin and another who managed to blown himself up in the process; the attempts of teaching stopped after that. . .
Within a minute or so after Ashur agreeing to speak to the Elric brother, the older alchemist darted into a nondescript shop waving slightly to one of the waitresses. While he could not be counted as a regular in the general sense that he always ate there, it was the only place he generally ate out at. Otherwise he was always cooking his own meals.
He took a seat at the back corner booth which kept him away from the other patrons and better yet gave him a view of the two access points to the room. Old habits died hard and this habit in particular would probably never die in Ashur. . . well, at least not before he did.
Taking a seat he placed his back to the wall and waited for the blond haired individual to sit as well. After another few seconds of silence Ashur spoke once more.
"I can not promise that you will understand what I am saying. I am a soldier, not a teacher or lecturer. I will however promise to do my best to explain it and answer any questions you might have. . . also feel free to order whatever you want."
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Post by edward elric on Jun 14, 2012 10:47:57 GMT -5
A smile came to Edward when Ashur said he was a free citizen and able to move about where he wanted. "You aren't however. Glad to see you have some free time to stroll around." He said with a bright smile to the man. It was always in the personality to be nice to someone who had a chance to teach you something. After years in search of information, you learned little tricks like that. Even if this was guy was working for the Fuhrer himself, Edward had no right to judge the man.
It wasn't like he knew what King Bradley was, or maybe he did. There was nothing that Ed could do about it now. When Ashur mentioned food and how the Fullmetal was known for his appetite, a laugh escaped his lips along with a growl from his stomach. "I suppose you are right about that! Thanks I'd love to get a bite." Edward said with a bright smile and his eyes closed. He hadn't eaten since Rush Valley, except a snack or two on the train ride over. It would be much appreciated to get some food inside of his stomach.
Then they began their little walk together as the younger of the two began to scramble his brain for information on Ashur Grey. He had read the book on his alchemy that he had written but he felt like that was barely a scratch on the surface. Sure, even if Edward wasn't an alchemist anymore for his gate was given as a toll. He still understood alchemy and was once one of the most prized alchemists in all of the military's pay roll. Since then he had gotten a lot of respect and people asked to see a show of it. Was he upset about not being able to perform his alchemy, sure he was and it would be a lie if he said he wasn't in search of a way to return the ability to himself but fruitless efforts, were just that. Fruitless.
Finally Ashur turned into a nice little place as they took and seat in the corner booth. Of course came the warning, as Ed expected. Last person who tried to learn it blew up. "Thanks and I think I'll be able to grasp the idea of it. I've read your book about the violet luxin. How you manipulate them into a transmutation circle right?" He asked as he was not sure if that was the complete method or not. It had been years since he read the book.
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Post by ashur grey on Jun 14, 2012 17:39:51 GMT -5
Ashur was still trying to puzzle out what exactly the young man hoped to learn from his own alchemy. After all he had even said he could not perform alchemy before and even if he had been able to it would have still been difficult if not impossible for him to utilize it. The question itself was interesting. He had gone immediately for how Ashur utilized them when he had expected him to ask how it even worked.
Maybe he understands it better than I thought. . .
It was an assumption of course, but a fairly logical one. After all if someone understood the basics of his alchemy then the next logical step to learn would be its applications. So either he understood or he was jumping ahead of himself. . . either way Ashur had promised to answer to the best of his abilities.
"That is one of the tricks I developed from it, but not the entirety of uses. Violet Luxin is physical matter like chalk or blood and as such can be used to draw circles. The advantage to them is that they are near impossible for others to see and I can manipulate their movements as I wish. You see, Violet luxin is only stable when made into small threads so its uses are both wide and narrow at the same time. For example I could not make a solid wall from violet, but I could weave hundreds of strings together to form a wall."
Ashur stopped for a moment in part to allow the younger man to process what he had said and in part to give his order to the waitress who had finally came over to the table. Ashur ordered his normal meal consisting of a bowl of stew, heel of bread and a glass of ice water. While not exactly a gourmet meal, Ashur found the food appealing in its simplicity. It had a good taste, was filling and fairly nutritious due to the vegetables. All in all it was what Ashur valued. . . practicality.
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Post by edward elric on Jun 14, 2012 18:12:26 GMT -5
There it was, Ashur had begun to talk of his alchemy after he looked into Ed's eyes about the comment of the Violet Luxin. He explained how it wasn't the entirety of it's use. So the Luxin were more than to just draw transmutation circles. The way the state alchemist spoke of it was that it wasn't like the Luxin were strong wide and solid but if you added them all together then it would become that. If you wove thousands of strings together and made it into one wall.
Then the lady came over and took their order. His normal ham sandwich was simply great, just that. It was a normal sandwich. Nothing special or expensive. "So what your saying is that, the luxin is a solid object but not as structurally capable of manipulating it into a big object such as a wall. However if you add them together you have a wall or knife per say made of the violet luxin?" Ed asked as he realized that he began to understand more of the complex use of the Violet Luxin.
"I couldn't imagine light being that easy to take control of. Wouldn't you have to have some kind of visual over a certain color, to be able to capture the rays that come from it?" Ed asked as it was a simple question. If the rays were coming from something, that made it a spectral that could be manipulated. Bending Light alchemist for a reason eh?
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Post by ashur grey on Jun 14, 2012 20:15:28 GMT -5
Ashur listened to how the boy interpreted his answer, watching him with his elbows on the table with his hands folded over one another slightly. He waited until he finished speaking, using the time he listened to also formulate his response. When the young man brought up needing some type of color to capture the rays from this brought the faintest smile to Ashur's lips. The older soldier was not one to give into emotions lightly, but the prospect of someone actually understanding his alchemy did bring him a kind of satisfaction.
"While you could use violet luxin to stitch a wall together I would say the trouble of turning it into a knife would not be worth the effort. You must remember there are other colors as well, each with their own properties. If I wanted a knife then I would use blue luxin, where as if I wanted a wall I would probably choose blue or green over violet."
Ashur paused for a moment and after a mental shrug he reached his hand into his jacket and in quick succession pulled out seven sets of spectacles. Violet, green, blue, yellow, orange, red and a darker red were the colors of the lenses; there being one pair of spectacles for each color of the spectrum.
"This is one of the tricks I learned quickly. Blue, sub-red and green are rather easy to find in nature. Blue skies and water, sub-red from heat itself and green from plant life and such. Trying to find, say orange, is another matter entirely. However, white light is the presence of all colors of the spectrum so by using the lenses I can separate what color I need from the white. So white washed buildings of anything that is grey can generate color while wearing the lenses."
After finishing Ashur leaned himself back from the table, his back coming to rest against the wooden backing of the booth they sat in. As much as he appreciated someone somewhat understanding his alchemy it felt rather odd giving such information out to someone who he had been placed against in the past, it felt odd giving out his tricks at all really. Still, Ashur crushed the feeling as best he could and waited for the next series of questions for the inquisitive mind across from him.
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Post by edward elric on Jun 14, 2012 21:12:15 GMT -5
Blue for a knife yet a different color for a wall. That got the young former state alchemist's mind going at a mile a minute. "Wait so every different luxin has a different trait that is better suited for a different form of material that could be used for different transmutations!?" Ed asked as he stared into the other man's eyes.. His form of alchemy must have been extremely difficult to master. "I couldn't imagine how much time and research you would have had to do to figure out the different strengths and weaknesses of the luxins."
Then a set of different colored glasses were pulled out as Ed began to fumble through them in his hands as Ashur began to speak again. How these different colors allowed him to depick the colors from white washed buildings. A grin came to Ed's face as he moved the blond hair from in front of his face. "A way to bypass the rules. Very clever Grey." He said with a nod as he began to think of how he could have used this back before he used his gate as a toll.
"I would have enjoyed to study and maybe use it but as you may have heard.." Edward stopped and looked at his hands. How he used to be able to clap them together and use the magically power he studied his entire life. "I lost my ability to use alchemy. Completely useless now!" He said with a smile on his face, even though inside it kind of killed him.
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Post by ashur grey on Jun 15, 2012 1:46:35 GMT -5
Ashur sat, listening for awhile as the young man praised him for being able to bypass the rules and after a few moments his spiel on how he was useless. The last part hit a slight nerve that reminded Ashur of his father who had looked down on non-alchemists even though his own alchemy was pathetic.
"I see two years has done little to teach you wisdom Fullmetal. . . I am a man of the military and we do not believe in waste."
The words were said with just a hint of distaste, although his face did not reflect the emotion. Ashur gave a slight sigh as his left hand reached towards a small stand that held small packets of sugar and picked one up. He held it so the boy could see it and then spoke once more.
"This is you two years ago Fullmetal. . . back when you could perform alchemy."
After saying that he ripped the top of the packet off, crumpled the small piece of paper into a ball and flicked it off to the side of the table. In his right hand he still held the majority of the sugar packet, lowered it to the table and began to pour out small piles, speaking the whole time.
"This is you now, and while you may not be able to perform Alchemy you are not without use. You can teach still, just like this packet can give sugar you can teach. In fact just as I had to break the packet to get the sugar, it might be that you had to lose your alchemy in order to teach."
Quickly Ashur pushed all the sugar together into one pile again and threw the larger piece of the packet, as well as picked up the small crumpled ball that had been the top into the pile as well. With no hesitation he laid a simple circle of violet luxin around the pile and in a small flash the packet was made whole again, with the sugar inside once more.
Ashur was not sure what had possessed him to lecture the boy. After all it was not like they were friends. In fact he had been set against them for a large portion of their journey as the Furher's dog. . .
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Post by edward elric on Jun 15, 2012 16:55:31 GMT -5
A State Alchemist told him he wasn't a waste. It was good to meet someone unlike the common persona of a State Alchemist being a non caring dog of the military. "I guess the wisdom part of my life comes further down the road." Ed said with a bright smile still painted on his face as he said the military didn't believe in waste. "I understand that. My hand to hand combat has improved greatly since I lost my ability to perform alchemy!" He said with a slight laugh, it had too. He still got in the same amount of trouble but with no alchemy to save him.
No words came from Edward as Ashur showed him a pack of sugar and said it was him two years ago with his alchemy. Then he listened as Grey said he could teach, maybe he had to lose his alchemy in order to teach what he had learned all those years ago. His eyes were bright when he showed the violet luxin and put all of the sugar and packet back together. It was a spectacular show, really. With just one show the young researcher was able to pick out how he drew the circle.
"Maybe you're right about that but still, I have a while before I begin to teach. Too much about the world to learn before I pass on any more trade secrets. Besides I don't want anyone to make the same mistakes I did and my Teacher before me.." Ed said and of course he meant human transmutation. Something that he and his brother repeated as a mistake their teacher made. Like master, like student.
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Post by ashur grey on Jun 24, 2012 5:00:09 GMT -5
Ashur listened blankly as the boy spoke, his dull gold eyes every watching, seeming as if he was constantly calculating and weighing the boy's worth. Once the boy finished Ashur spoke once more in turn, his words slightly more slow than before, almost as if he was measuring how much to say.
"A man could spend a lifetime learning of the world and you have many years left to you to see it all. One thing you will not see though Fullmetal is a child who listens on all matters. You may do your best to make sure people do not repeat your mistakes, but someone will. Someone always repeats the mistakes of the past."
It was then that the waitress decided to bring their food over finally, she laying down the bread, bowl and glass before Ashur and the ham sandwhich in front of Edward. Ashur thanked her and said to hold the check for now in case they decided to order more and once she was gone he set about adding a little pepper to the thick stew and stirring it slowly waiting for his mealtime companion to break the silence once more.
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Post by edward elric on Jun 28, 2012 19:35:43 GMT -5
Nerves began to rack up as Ashur talked of how mistakes will always be repeated. No matter what they would always have the same problems because people would always make the same mistakes as people in the past. "I know but for the sake of the world. Let's hope some people begin to learn from the past's mistakes. Especially if we want to avoid another Promised Day." Ed said with a smile as he got his sandwich, it was great and good to get some food in his stomach. He didn't even know himself about how hungry he was.
"Still some of the things you say worry me. If people truly are still curious enough to seek what lays behind the gate. Who knows, even Father could break out again... Wait, you are familiar with everything that happened right?" Ed asked with a curious face. It was just in case if the man did not know the details. Details were kept from civilians, just the general idea but everything else. Well there was a world worth of depth inside of what happened the day that the world almost ended.
Although with his heart that pounded right now about a mile a minute, Ed kept on a calm face. "I know but still. I wish I could get my alchemy back somehow, sometimes. I guess it's childish thing but in a way I am happy without it. Not everything in life should be completed with alchemy. If you can fix something without it, then it's better to not use it. Something my teacher always used to say."
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Post by ashur grey on Sept 26, 2012 3:45:04 GMT -5
Ashur sat listening to the former Fullmetal Alchemist speak, merely nodding when he asked Ashur if he knew about Father. It was still a rather sore subject for Ashur, to have learned that years of his life had been spent doing the bidding of Father through orders from the Furher. It was. . . irritating to say the least.
When Edward got onto the topic of missing his alchemy, Ashur could not help, but think of what his life would be like if he ever lost his alchemy. In truth, Ashur was not sure if he could stand to be without it. For so long alchemy had been just about the only thing that defined him. . . that gave him a purpose. Oh he could go back to his family he supposed, but Ashur believed he had burned those bridges long ago or rather; Ashur had neglected those bridges so long that they had collapsed.
Turning his attention back to the conversation at hand Ashur re-appraised the former fullmetal alchemist. Slowly Ashur began to shake his head from left to right before he spoke.
"Tell me Fullmetal. Are you truly happier without your alchemy? All of those years spent studying and suddenly unable to do it yourself? I will not let you call yourself useless, but neither will I let you fool yourself.
I know I could be wrong about you, but I believe you are like me, that you need your alchemy to an extent. I believe that is part of why you continued to study it even after you lost the ability to perform it. If your answer is that you do want your alchemy back then I might just have a way you could get it back. I will not guarantee anything, but from the viewpoint of equivalent exchange it could work."
As Ashur finished speaking his hand moved to take hold of his spoon, the man proceeding to take a bite of his stew. Ashur was curious what the Fullmetal's reaction would be. Ashur believed he wanted his alchemy back. The question was did Ashur believe this because Edward continued to study alchemy or deep down was it just that Ashur could not believe that another person could go without alchemy when he himself could not. . .
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