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Post by Scar on Aug 2, 2009 23:15:41 GMT -6
Scar descended the stairs, and poured himself a cup of coffee. Looking at Dante, he was about to speak before he heard the unmistakable maniacle laughter, and scowled. "...For some reason, I've lost all will to even try to reprimand him." he commented, before taking a seat next to his wife.
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Post by amouri on Aug 3, 2009 6:39:37 GMT -6
He was still watching the Crimson alchemist out of the window, but looked at her again when she spoke.
He stiffened in surprise at her touch, blushing faintly.
He swallowed uneasily.
"Hm...well, you're father must've been a clever man then."
He hesitated.
"Thanks."
He thought for a moment in silence.
"That reminds me of another Ishbalan I knew once," he said suddenly.
"Nice girl, not always cheerful, but she did what she could to keep us from driving each other up the wall. Even though she seemed more mature than any of us guys on the outside, we were shocked to find out how young she really was. She was kind of...not exactly a mother figure, more like a bossy sister."
He chuckled.
"She held us back from crossing the thin line that would make us nothing but animals. Nice girl, I can't say I've known many Ishbalans, but those I've had the fortunate luck to meet have always been friendly."
He sighed.
"Makes me wonder why such a proud people could be struck so hard by bad luck."
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Post by Zolf J Kimblee on Aug 3, 2009 8:44:28 GMT -6
Sarai
Poor Barry. She hadn't meant to make him nervous. Perhaps he wasn't comfortable with gentle touches after such a horrid past. It made her a bit sad, really. He seemed like the most....sane, and kind person out of the bunch. "It wasn't just bad luck, Barry...there was a lot more too it, sadly."
She would be careful to stay out of his space. It was obvious that friends were a valuable commodity in this world, or at least this house, and she didn't want to push a potential friend away.
She looked out the window again. Kiimblee tossed an empty can of fluid aside and picked up a second one, pouring it all over the BBQ.
"He's not BBQ'ing, he's just being an ass! Look at the charcoal. It's practically ash already!
Outside, Kimblee started tossing more charcoal bricks into the flames, then took a seat to drink and watch the flames die down.
Kimblee:
He had a half-buzz going and was feeling a bit devilish. Sad that he was reduced to a half-assed pyromaniac, from the glory of transmuting entire blocks into a mushroom cloud. Those were the days...yeah.
He leaned against the door jamb, beer hanging loose from his fingers and belched at Scar and Dante. He chuckled. "I'm burnin' some steaks for a grand 'Welcome Home Envy' bash. Everyones' invited..." he nodded to Scar, "Even you...you..grumpy bastard. Beer and mixers are on the porch. Help yourselves...." he turned away, then tossed over his shoulder, "Or not....dun care one way or t' other." *hic!*
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Post by amouri on Aug 3, 2009 15:33:32 GMT -6
Barry was still oddly flushed and flustered, but didn't exactly feel relieved when she removed her hand.
It was nice to feel some comfort for once.
"Ah...yes. She...well, we didn't know her real name, we were just all known by cell numbers mostly. 32 was hers, she never openly spoke of what happened in Ishbal. Not to me anyway. But apparently it was horrible."
He hesitated.
"Were...you there? When it happened?"
He wouldn't push her for information, he knew himself of haunting deeds of the past, but he was slightly curious nonetheless.
He glanced out again and shook his head once more.
"Yeah...ass is a good word to describe it. He's not completely evil though, some other people in this house are far worse than him. If its dangerous we're speaking of that is."
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Post by Zolf J Kimblee on Aug 3, 2009 15:52:03 GMT -6
Sarai
"I'd ask you to join me on the back porch, but Zolf would probably spoil our conversation somehow." she commented, gazing out the window. "I think he's just drunk and trying to show off for that pink haired girl. He has a lot to learn if he thinks he's cute or clever."
She laughed when Barry said he wasn't quite as wicked or dangerous as the others. She agreed, somewhat but had to say, "Barry...there's a saying-my father, again-: 'Dumb is dangerous.' And Kimblee is dumb. Not stupid, exactly. But too impulsive."
It had been quite some time since she'd discussed Ishbal with anyone. There had never been anyone safe to talk to. "Oh yeah...I was there. And very young. I had a chance to kill him once. And I didn't. And many people died as a result. I'm unofficially an exile."
She reached into her purse, which was sitting on the kitchen table and pulled out an old black and white photo. There were four people on a couch. One was an Ishballan man with his arm around a stunning Drachman woman. Her hair was long and black and her eyes were pale. If the picture had been color, anyone looking at it would have seen that her eyes were gold. A little black haired boy of about 3 years of age was laying his head on a a pregnant Ishballan woman's belly. It was a happy scene.
"See that little boy? That is Zolf J. Kimblee. The couple sitting next to him are his parents. The pregnant woman is his aunt. I know more about Zolf than he knows about himself."
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Post by amouri on Aug 4, 2009 4:38:41 GMT -6
Barry grinned nervously.
Impulsive.
That was a word that described some of his actions far too well than he would have preferred to think.
He looked at her in surprise.
"You had a chance to...who, Kimb-?"
He fell silent as she held out the picture.
He looked at it in surprise and shock, gazing at the frozen faces from years ago.
"NO way-thats Zolf?"
He scratched his neck , dumbfounded.
"His-father was an Ishbalan? That just makes no sense, why would he have wanted to kill all those Ishbalans if he himself indirectly was related to them?"
He fell silent once more.
The thought of Zolf being in the family of one of the only races in their old world who worshipped a god as their culture, seemed completely impossible in his ears.
"How...how do you know this?"
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Post by Zolf J Kimblee on Aug 5, 2009 14:22:24 GMT -6
She fingered the picture lightly... looking haunted as she did so. She slipped it in her purse. It was all she had left now. All the records and genealogies kept so painstakingly over generations was on the other side of the gate.
"I'm the unborn child in that picture. Zolf is my cousin." She looked up at him pleadingly, "Please... tell no one. Especially not Zolf... or Scar.
She explained the background a little more, "Both his parents were killed when they were fleeing Drachma. He was very young. I can only assume his adoptive parents never told him his past. It disturbs me to even consider how he came to be adopted. I suspect soldiers from both sides killed refugees and sold their children to barren couples."
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Post by amouri on Aug 5, 2009 15:31:14 GMT -6
Barry's brow continued to contort further as he listened.
"No, of course not. Couldn't dream of it."
He sighed, scratching the back of his neck absentmindedly.
"Thats...complicated. Yeah, many bad things happened in that war, and many of the bad things that happened after it were probably triggered by it."
He sighed, scratching his neck.
"So you're his...cousin, huh?"
He looked at her in thought.
"You sure don't look much like him. Don't act like him either. One would never have guessed unless one had been told otherwise."
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Post by Zolf J Kimblee on Aug 5, 2009 20:00:49 GMT -6
She smiled. "No, all his looks come from his mother and her side of the family I suppose."
She wondered about Zolf. Were some people born purely evil? Or was there something about his upbringing that explained how twisted he was? Every family tree was scattered with black sheep, but Zolf... he was just... She shuddered involuntarily.
She sighed and glanced out the window at Kimblee. He'd apparently passed out with a beer in his hand and the charcoal was turning gray. It would probably die out without so much as a single steak on it.
"It's a shame, really." she mused quietly. "He's the seventh firstborn in a line of firstborn males. It's hopeless now. Everything depended on him, but he's a lost cause." She lowered her head. "Generations of preparation and waiting... and he's the seventh firstborn we have to work with?"
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Post by amouri on Aug 6, 2009 2:04:54 GMT -6
She seemed to have gone silent in thought, but he heard the low murmur of speech none-theless.
Though it didn't seem to make any sense he could detect.
Barry looked at her in a slightly confused manner.
"Er...say what?
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Post by Zolf J Kimblee on Aug 6, 2009 11:27:16 GMT -6
Startled from her reverie, she gave Barry a light laugh. "Oh, it's nothing. Just family.... stuff." she frowned a little at the thought. As the day wore on, it was becoming obvious to her-the nature of this world-and it was disturbing.
She recalled a conversation with her father she'd had one night outside the refugee camp tents, under the stars. He'd pointed to the stars and began, "See all those stars? The God of the great patriarch Abraham showed him the stars one night, just as I show you. The One God promised him that his seed would be as the number of the stars." He took her by the shoulders and continued, a solemn look on his face, "There are roughly six billion people alive on this planet. The same number of people who have ever lived-and died- in all of history. There are six billion genes on a single strand of DNA. From living seed to living seed."
The words confused her and he didn't explain what he'd meant. He simply handed her a very, very old book. "Keep this, Sarai. It has been handed down for generations. It carries the secret language and the key to all alchemy... and the Grand Arcanum."
She turned the book over and looked at it's title, "Holy Bible?" she asked, glancing up at him with confusion.
"It's a collection of books," he said, "written by prophets and alchemists from a time before the tearing of the world in two. When the world was torn in two, our world abandoned the ways written here. Even our people forgot and our beliefs became lost to us. Our family has guarded these ways in secret for many generations."
He flipped through the pages and pointed to a section about 2/3rds through it, "Read these words, Sarai. This man was the greatest alchemist of all time. He not only could turn water into wine without a transmutation circle, and heal thousands," he glanced about to make sure no one was around to hear and continued in a low voice, "he successfully performed human transmutations, bringing life back to the dead. His alchemy is so powerful, he even knew the way to bring his own self back from the gate when he died!" He put his fingers over his lips in warning. "Tell no one of this book. It is very rare... and the only place you might ever find another is in an alchemists library."
She had been frightened and confused. And the book lay at the bottom of her purse. It was a small book, but a heavy load.
"Barry... do you know where any second hand stores are? I should go buy some clothes." she asked, "I'd be happy if you came along to keep me company." She smiled up at him.
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Post by aspiredeathe on Aug 6, 2009 14:24:27 GMT -6
((Heya ^^ I have returned from my crusade ^^
I get the idea I've missed a bit, so if anyone would be kind enough to give me a quick summary?
Then I would love you forever xD))
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Post by amouri on Aug 6, 2009 15:03:54 GMT -6
((Sweet Jesus, Christ was an alchemist! Of course, why didn't I notice before?))
Barry scratched his chin.
"Hm...I haven't looked for exactly that kind of shop around here, but I'm sure there'll be one."
He smiled at her, displaying his teeth cheerfully.
"Yeah, sure I'll come with ya. Don't know 'bout transport though, I haven't driven in...a long time to say it shortly. I doubt Scar would let me borrow the car anyway."
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Post by Zolf J Kimblee on Aug 6, 2009 16:09:01 GMT -6
((Heya ^^ I have returned from my crusade ^^ I get the idea I've missed a bit, so if anyone would be kind enough to give me a quick summary? Then I would love you forever xD)) [Sarai and Barry have been conversing in the kitchen, Zolf has been getting drunk on the porch and making general mischief and Martel and Dante can sum theirs up. It's kinda complicated and has story background from before I came on the scene. Some kidnapping and stuff from past agendas] |
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Post by Zolf J Kimblee on Aug 6, 2009 21:57:51 GMT -6
Sarai
She found a large directory on a shelf where the phone was. She thumbed through it, looking for consignment shops. Salvation Army, Goodwill, and a handful of others with reference to Christian churches. This astonished her. She flipped through to the church section and saw long lists of Christian denominations along with other denominations.
What startled her even more was the list of synagogues and temples. But she drew in a sharp breath when one word caught her eye: Kabbalah. Was knowledge like this so easy to come by in this world that a person need only open a phone directory and make a phone call?
There was a single line at the bottom of the ad: Homeless? Hungry? In need of clothing? Come by, we can help. She scribbled the address down on a piece of note paper and asked Barry, "Do you know where this address is? It says here they can help me with clothing." Plus, she also had plans to pay a cautious visit to the Kabbalah center there. And she also wondered how the God of the Hebrews, Muslims and Christians came to be worshiped here still, and not on the other side of the gate.
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Post by amouri on Aug 7, 2009 4:16:33 GMT -6
He glanced over her shoulder at the small note.
"Yeah, I can find that. Shouldn't be a problem."
He scratched his chin in thought.
"We could catch a bus, that shouldn't be too difficult either. Gotta see if there's a bus-plan lying around here somewhere."
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Post by Zolf J Kimblee on Aug 7, 2009 12:53:57 GMT -6
Sarai She gazed down, a bit embarrassed at her situation. "Um... do you have enough to cover my fare? Till I find work and can pay you back?" Her family had always been self sufficient and prided themselves on being charitable rather than accepting charity. Now the shoe was on the other foot and she was in need of charity, and it made her uneasy. But pride would not serve her here. Pride would not feed, clothe and house her. She would simply have to swallow it and be thankful to those who helped her. "Never think less of those you help, dear." her father had told her once, "For one day you may find yourself in their position, and those you help will remember you in your time of need." "But Father," she'd said, "many we help now show no gratitude. We help them and in turn, they ignore others in need when they're in a position to help." "Give freely," he answered with simple confidence, "expect nothing in return. The Father of Celestial Lights will provide always. Help will always come from a source you least expect. Now go to bed, it is late. And again they move us to another camp. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." [Sweet Jesus, Christ was an alchemist! Well, it makes for interesting story telling at any rate.  ] |
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Post by amouri on Aug 7, 2009 14:55:51 GMT -6
Barry wrinkled his brow.
"Hm, yeah, I think I might have some cash lying around..."
The very few times he had tried getting a job, it had always been either too boring or just beyond him.
Having given up on making an effort, he had just settled on to leeching of the house hold as nearly everyone else had.
"You wait here, I'll just nip upstairs and get my wallet."
He grinned and went towards the stairs, once more venturing up to his room.
After having once more rummaged through the drawers, ignoring the growing pile of clothes, bits and bobs on the floor, he found what he had been searching for.
He quickly flicked through the few notes there were, and summed up the coins with a satisfied grunt.
Cheah, that'll be enough.
He went downstairs again, pausing to pull a crinkled bus-plan out from inside a book, not really bothering about putting a bookmark in as replacement.
He grinned slightly as he noticed someone had been chewing on it, the culprit probably being Nikolai.
"Yup, got it." He waved the busplan. "And this. Takes a few minutes to walk to the bus station, there'll be one driving from there in a bout half an hour or so."
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Post by Zolf J Kimblee on Aug 8, 2009 3:05:28 GMT -6
She giggled lightly as he went up the stairs. 'just nip up the stairs...' she thought.
When he came back down and handed her some bus fare, she tucked it into a small coin purse. She giggled and smiled up at him, "I like you Barry. You sound cute when you talk."
She headed toward the front door and opened it, waiting for Barry. It would be nice to get out of the house and see more of this place and get a feel for it. "You will have to lead the way to the bus stop, Barry. I don't know east from west around here yet. It's so disorienting. It all feels backwards here."
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Post by amouri on Aug 9, 2009 0:00:06 GMT -6
He smiled bashfully at her words.
"...Thanks. Do I? I wouldn't have thought that."
He followed her out of the door smiling slightly at her words.
"Yup, I remember that. How it used to be I mean. Well, still is that way more or less, but now I at least know the basics on navigating around in this world without getting hit flat by a car or arrested for intruding private property."
He led her down the pavement, occasionally looking down at his feet.
"You might want to watch where you're going, the dog owners around here aren't always so persistent in cleaning up after them."
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