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 Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 2:45 pm
There was no cause for celebration. At least not as far as Lt. Col. Warrick Rhodes was concerned. But it had been a very long time out in the desert, and the soldiers were getting really restless. So Warrick could forgive them a little celebration. He would let them celebrate that they were still alive, none of them had gone crazy, and perhaps things would be over soon. This did not mean, however, that he would join them.
While the majority of the troops were laughing and cheering at various things around two large bonfires, even dancing and drinking, (though the consumption of alcohol on duty was mostly forbidden, as long as no one was on guard duty and drinking Warrick allowed it tonight), Warrick remaind sitting outside his tent and watching from a distance. He didn't want to get too close. Not to the activity, and not to anyone in general.
Of course, other people had other plans. And with a few drinks in her Lt. Branyon thought it was a great idea to harass the Col., her friend, about being anti-social. So she moved over to him, easily spotting his darkened form, and sat down next to him, herself being on the ground though he had a chair. She laughed a little and War gave her a very strange look.
"Oh, don't be so stiff," Lt. Branyon teased, "It's been a week with you acting funny. I'm not acting funny. Lighten up a little, War. We will go home soon! Everyone can feel it, it's in the air," she gestured. "In the air? Are you sure that's not teh toxins wafting over from the town?" Warrick questioned. Fiona frowned a bit, though she still looked amused. "Clever, clever, man," she patted his knee, "Listen, I feel like we're growing apart," she said, then shifted to lean against him, her head against his side, "I can't be alone," she added quietly.
Warrick was a very sympathetic man, and when it came to Fiona he didn't know how to say no at this point. She really was the closest thing he had to a friend. She WAS a friend, he supposed. And despite the awkwardness he didn't want to let her be alone, "Come on, Fi," he said with a sigh, standing and helping her to her feet. He began to tow her back over to everyone else. "Thanks," she said, smiling lightly. "Yeah?" Warrick asked, then stopped and shifted so that he was casually dancing with her. He could loosen up a little, he supposed.
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 3:42 pm
It had been a week since Ace had made his escape. Well, it hadn't exactly been much of an escape since the lt. colonel had basically let him leave in the middle of the night. Though Ace was almost completely certain that Warrick was telling his troops that the teenager had slipped through his fingers. Secretly, the young man hoped that Warrick didn't get in trouble for his good deed. Because he appreciated it. He had never thought in a million years that a military man would be kind enough to give him a break.
Warrick was so much more different than Ace's view on military officers. He didn't think that anyone had ever done anything more kind for him since he had started his new life alone and with nothing. Ace had never met anyone like Warrick before. Maybe that was why he found himself coming back.
The young man didn't know exactly why he found himself returning to the city he had been trying to escape in the first place. Of course, he would never find himself back IN the city. No way. However, he did find himself back at the camp in which he had spent a little bit of time. Having hitched a ride in the back of a truck, he didn't have to walk too far.
Ace kept to the shadows of the tents, mainly the lt. colonel's. He peeked out at the celebration, watching as the soldiers had a good time, drinking and dancing. He wondered how they could do that when so many people were suffering inside of the city. Of course, the teenager's perspective on the military hadn't changed, just because one man had been nice to him. He had just come to realize that some of the soldiers must have been good people.
He spotted Warrick dancing casually with his lieutenant, and he couldn't help but to wonder if they had made up. Maybe things between them had been patched and Lt. Branyon had come to realize that she had made a mistake. Ace folded his arms, leaning casually up against one of the tent poles.
The young man had gotten some new clothes, so obviously he had been doing some of his 'business'. He had on a pair of dark grey slacks with a new, white button-up shirt. His suspenders were in place, though over this he had on a brown tweed jacket. His feet were clad in some black loafers and his hat was in place on his head. Ace also had a bag slung over one of his shoulders.
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:10 pm
"I want to go home, War," Fiona said quietly. Warrick didn't know how she had suddenly become so quiet and so... Sad. That was the word, wasn't it? Lt. Branyon never seemed lonely. She was personable and out-going at all times. She had a strong will and seeing it being broken down as it now was made Warrick feel something he had never wanted to feel. He felt a sort of resentment. Against this who cause. Were they really helping?
"You should get some rest. We'll see how you are feeling in the morning. I may have to send you back to Central to take care of some business for me," Warrick said. And because he was always honest, Lt. Branyon could tell immediately by his tone that there was no business. She scrunched her eyes shut and let out a ragged sigh. "Sir,... I believe I would better serve you here," she said. "Don't be a fool, Fiona," Warrick countered, "I just trust you with my affairs," he added. Lt. Branyon frowned.
"I'm sorry," Fiona mummbled then. Warrick sighed now himself, "Don't be sorry. I mean it, I need you to run some errands," he said. "Not for that," Fiona replied. Warrick found himself frowning now. "You know... We're good friends, aren't we?" he asked, Fiona nodded, "I thought so. Lets always be good friends," he added. Fiona looked up at him, her expression a strange one, then she smiled. It almost hurt Warrick to see that it was a very relieved smile, but he managed not to show it too much. "You're a very good man, War," she said. "So I am told," Warrick responded.
And then he ordered the Lt. to cheer up and passed her on to someone else. And as they began to have a really good time once more he turned and wandered back toward his tent. But he stopped on the way to chat briefly with a soldier who was sitting nearby, and knelt down to scratch behind the ears of the dog sitting next to the man. It was nothing important. They may have actually been chatting about the weather. Warrick was trying to be more of... A real person, he supposed. When that was done he got up again and continued on his way.
He glanced over his shoulder briefly to see that Fiona and the soldier who had been guarding his tent with her a week or so before were spinning around madly and generally making great fools of themselves. He wished he could do that to some degree. Warrick couldn't bring himself to make a fool of himself, no matter how fun it looked, however. Not only because he was a commander, but because he just couldn't. Even if he wanted to.
Distracted by them and these thoughts he didn't realize he had nearly reached his tent. Or that he was about to run into a surprise guest. He shifted his face forward and found himself only inches from Ace. The look of surprise was very clear. His eyes were a bit wide and his brows furrowed briefly. But then he stepped back and relaxed his expression. He wondered how Ace had slipped by the soldiers, and if he should scold anyone for not being watchful enough. Then again, how could he? He had let Ace 'escape' in the first place.
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:36 pm
Ace was very good at being sneaky. He had perfected this talent over the years. The young man had started out as nothing more than a petty thief when he was very young. He was an orphan, like many of the Ishbal War and could do nothing more than steal food to eat. As he had gotten older, he got more creative with the way that he stole. Soon enough he had gotten into the art of alchemy and figured out a way to make money and he had learned to get away with it too.
Ace watched the lt. colonel, his eyes following the older man as he conversed with his Lieutenant. He couldn't help but to notice the disappointed look as it reflected in his eyes. Being that he was good at lying and cheating, Ace was also pretty good at reading people. And not to mention that Warrick had eyes that were always so full of expression. It was easy to see that he was not pleased about something.
The teenager's eyes continued to follow the lt. colonel as he began to make his way back towards the tent. He stood patiently and when Warrick raised his gaze and finally noticed him, Ace smiled in almost a mischievous way. He seemed almost pleased with himself for slipping past the guards and not being noticed. It was what he was good at. That had to have been obvious to Warrick by now.
"So... I was thinking that it wasn't fair that I knew your whole name and you didn't know mine." Ace said, moving off of the tent pole so that he was no longer leaning. "Adelaid. Ace Adelaid is my full name."
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:47 pm
There was something oddly comforting about Ace's mischievous smile. Maybe knowing that someone had fooled you, or was sure they had, or even that they were about to shouldn't have been comforting... But to Warrick it was. He liked the idea that someone knew something he did not. It took some of the pressure off. And what was life without having anything to learn, anyway?
Of course, the statement was all too fitting when it came to matching the look. He had come back to this place, full of the sort of people he despised, where he was now certainly a criminal if he hadn't been before... To tell Warrick his name? It was amusing, really, which was why the little smirk seemed to work so well with what he had said. Warrick had to hand it to the sneaky kid, he knew how to make an entrance and just what to say when he did so. It was a social skill he could only pray to one day master himself.
"How very familiar," Warrick said, eying Ace carefully as he stepped around him and actually into his tent. There was something so familiar about the name. He had a feeling this was a name he had heard before, and he should have known it. Ace was probably some form of wanted. He had admitted his life was that of a rebellious loner. Warrick decided not to ask, of course. What he didn't know wouldn't make him feel guilty about not doing his job, after all.
"I'm not much of a dancer myself," he said, changing the subject then. He had wandered over to his desk and unbuttoned and began to slip off the heavier top shirt of his uniform, leaving the plain white one underneath on of course. "I suppose you could say," he went on, "That I am no fun at all. The truth is that I feel wrong celebrating. We have done nothing but perpetuate the suffering of the innocent, and I see no progress when it comes to a cure or to controlling and eliminating the problem. But I can't blame them for being restless. I almost feel guilty for being so different from everyone myself," he admitted. Not the lightest conversation, but an explanation as to why he was at his tent and not outside with the others at least.
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 5:07 pm
The smile remained on Ace's face, perhaps even widening a little bit when Warrick announced that the name definitely sounded familiar. of course it sounded familiar. Ace was a wanted man. He was wanted by the military for the very way that he made his living He had a feeling that the older man knew that he was some form of criminal at this point.
Also, the teenager didn't seem to be afraid of being caught. Of course, he didn't WANT to get caught and he didn't want to be put behind bars. But by his actions, it definitely seemed like he wasn't afraid. He had come back at the risk of being caught again and this time for good. Yet here he was, back in the place he was trying to get away from and telling Warrick his full name even though it was possible that the military man would recognize it.
However, for whatever reason... he trusted this man. He trusted him not to keep him against his will. Not only that, but he felt a bond with Warrick that he couldn't exactly explain. He hadn't known the lt. colonel for very long, but he felt like he had known him for so much longer. It was kind of a strange feeling because Ace didn't get close to people often. Not only that, but this man was a military officer. That was also why this all felt so strange.
Ace didn't hesitate to follow Warrick into his tent. he wasn't exactly a very polite young man, so he didn't feel the need to be invited in. However, as the older man continued to talk, he felt as if that was an invitation in itself.
"You should feel wrong celebrating while the people in the city are suffering." Ace said honestly. One of the things that really bothered him about this situation was that the military was doing everything wrong and not doing anything to help. "But I guess it isn't your fault. One person can't do it all." He shrugged a bit.
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 5:21 pm
"We are helpless. No just me, all of us. The truth is that no matter why you join, you have to keep in mind you will not be allowed to do whatever you want to do. Our personal feelings no longer matter when you become a soldier. You are not an individual, you part of a massive, living force. And if you are not the head of the beast you are a useless limb that is controlled by it," Warrick stated rather plainly. He was becoming more and more cynical. It was sad to see a man like him losing his faith. What else did he have to live for, after all?
"We were here first, did you know that? We were occupying the town when the trouble started. We knew these people. We made friends with them, we shared meals with them, conversations. And then we had to close them in. Now it all seems meaningless. I am not the only one who feels this way. There are many soldiers with broken hearts. But fear and duty drives all human action in a time of crisis. We are helpless. We are not even allowed to be part of the investigation team. We do not know what is going on, we are not briefed on their findings. I have to believe that what is happening tonight is a celebration of the fact that we haven't lost all hope. I can stomach it then," he finished.
When he turned around he adjusted his scarf slightly to keep it from falling off. He was used to it now. He always had it on his face. He would feel wrong speaking to anyone without it. And yet it was also a bother from time to time. It was warm, and it was another barrier between himself and everyone else. He was beginning to feel a certain distaste toward barriers, and he could understand Ace's obsession with freedom more with each passing day. It made sense to him not to want to be contained. He wished he could ever have the chance to escape, but knew his prison was the permanent sort.
"Did you really come back here just to tell me your name, Ace Adelaid?" he asked, staring at him for a moment, then moving over to light each of his lamps. There was a mild glow from the fire outside but he appreciated being able to see the faces of those he was speaking to, even if they couldn't really see his own. After all, he was sparing people from his. Most people didn't have to do that. And the human face was so very expressive. It was truly a fascinating thing.
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:29 pm
It seemed to Ace that the lt. colonel was losing his faith in the military. The people who were his family. The people who had saved him from a terrible childhood. The young man couldn't imagine what that must feel like. To doubt the only thing that you know... the only thing that you have. Perhaps this was another reason why Ace had no one and nothing himself. Maybe he was afraid of losing it again once he had it. Of course, all of these thoughts were kept to himself as normal.
The teenager shifted a bit so that he could slide his bag from his shoulder, setting it on the ground. It wasn't hard to guess that he had his everyday needs in the pack. Perhaps an extra set of clothes, maybe some food. Probably the little bit of money that he had. Ace was a traveler, it was likely that he had all of his belongings with him at all times if he had any belongings at all.
"No, I didn't know that." He said finally. Of course, he was aware that military and civilians were friends at times. However, it was just strange to hear that it really was true. he had spent so much of his life hating and despising the government and the military, that he forgot at times that they must had had real lives and real relationships. Warrick made him realize this. "There is so much corruption in the world. I wish things could just... be. I understand that the people here are getting sick and it's not getting worse. Something should be done about it, but locking them up is not the way to do it. Because there are also the people there who are perfectly fine, but are getting sick now because they can't leave. If I had been stuck in there any longer... I probably would have ended up the same."
Ace wasn't criticizing Warrick. He was just telling it like he saw it. He knew that it wasn't the lt. colonel's fault. But he could blame the rest of the military, right? Somehow he knew that he wouldn't be able to get away with that.
The young man was silent for a minute and then he crouched down so that he could open his canvas bag. Reaching into it, he rummaged around briefly and then pulled out what he had been searching for. A piece of thick, metal chain that wasn't much more than a foot long. It was old and rusted and probably of no use to anyone anymore. Ace placed it on the ground and draped his palms over it. He closed his eyes.
For a moment he concentrated, and then something began to happen. The chain began to glow very dully at first, the metal glowing brighter, shining with it's own light. At one point it got so bright that the chain was no longer visible, however when the brightness died away, the chain was no longer there. Ace opened his eyes slowly and then removed his hands. Underneath them was what appeared to be a bar of solid gold. It was extremely well executed and would look like real gold to most people.
"It's not real." Ace explained, knowing that if it was he could get in FAR more trouble having transmuted it. The teenager picked it up and offered it for Warrick to take. "Anyway, I thought you deserved to know the truth about me. You probably know what I am by now."
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 11:46 pm
Yes, that was the trouble. That was what didn't make sense. More people were getting sick because they couldn't leave. But how else were they supposed to go about doing this? He had gone over it in his head a million times. And it was all still such a dull, grey area. What could they have done differently? How could they protect anyone? This was almost out of their hands, and if it was... How would anyone feel safe?
"At first it was to make sure no one would spread the sickness. And then it just became the only thing anyone could think to do. People don't want to be locked up in their own town, but would they rather we build a prison somewhere and drag their afflicted loved ones off to it? Or would they rather leave there homes with nowhere to go? No decision is the right decision. And so one had to be made, the choice to keep the town on lock down. It comes at a price, but so would any other. And if we had ignored it and told them to fix the problem themselves we would still be monsters. So what decision should have been made? I don't know myself," Warrick said honestly.
And he really didn't know. Was this right or was it wrong? Was there right or wrong in this situation at all? Should they have gone in to round up those they dubbed sick or crazy and locked them up like prisoners? There was no right move. Either way they were hurting people. Sometimes he wondered if he was cut out for his rank. He had earned it, but when it came down to making those big decisions, what would he have done if it were up to him? Warrick didn't know. He really didn't know.
His attention was directed now to the fake gold bar that Ace offered him. He took it and turned it over briefly in the dim light of the flicking lanterns combined with the fire outside. It looked real, it was nice work he had to admit. He set it down on his desk and returned his eyes to Ace. He looked a bit confused. "What you are?" he asked. It seemed like some sort of a trick statement. "I know that you're a boy," he went on, moving to step a little bit closer to Ace, "A nice boy, even. I know you have a history, I know you should hate me but you don't seem to. That's all I really know about you, Ace Adelaid. And that's all I really need to know. Unless you would like me to know more," he finished. He didn't add the fact that he probably would LIKE to know more. He figured he had said enough.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 12:29 am
Ace shrugged his shoulders casually in response to the lt. colonel. He looked up at the older man before he shifted to his feet again. "I'm more of a man than a boy. I've been a man for a lot longer than any boy should, really." He explained. This was probably true to some extent. He had learned to take care of himself at a much earlier age than most people. He had learned that the world was a cruel place in the worst way possible. It was almost a shame that things had turned out that way for the young man.
"I'm a thief. A con man if you will." The teenager admitted, reaching over and running a couple of fingers over the gold bar that he had created out of the metal chain. He probably could have gotten a couple nights stay in an inn for that. Maybe even the hot bath that he was striving for. "This is what I do for a living. If you can really call it a living. It's how I live, anyway. I sell fake gold, fake silver... stuff like that. I can do other things with metal..." Ace raised his hands to show the tattoos upon the palms of his hands to Warrick in the dim candle light. "If you had handcuffed me the night you had caught me, I probably would have made them into sand." The young man smiled lightly.
Ace didn't know why exactly he had come back to tell this man all of this. For some reason, he felt that the lt. colonel deserved to know who he was. For some reason, he hadn't been able to think about much else during his week on the road. This was also bothersome to him... maybe he had come back to try and figure it out as well.
"For some reason I want you to know. I think it's because I trust you. It goes against all of my beliefs to trust a soldier, but I trust you." The younger alchemist confirmed finally. "Anyway... I think it's been long enough, and it's about time that someone knows me."
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 12:51 am
Warrick didn't know exactly what to think of this situation. On one hand he was wary, and confused. On the other hand he was entirely thrilled for someone to want him to know them. Someone who had seen his face and even... Touched it. There was a mildly troubling thought. What about that strange little kiss? It was odd, and kind. Maybe too kind. Maybe pity, but at this point he doubted it. Why would Ace have any pity for a soldier? It still made him feel strange, just thinking about.
"That means a lot to me," he finally said. And he meant it entirely. It always meant a lot to Warrick when people trusted him. That was why he had worked as hard as he had. He had moved up quickly and put himself in a position where people had to trust him, and he had to work not to betray that trust. Not to mention he had no family to speak of and it was easy for him to spend all hours training himself. As stated before many times, this really was all Warrick had. His work was his life, his home, and his family. It was his meaning, his purpose. Warrick WAS the military.
And for this reason it was still so puzzling that Ace would choose him to trust. But he didn't want to question it. He wanted Ace to trust him because he knew he was a man who could be trusted. At least he thought he was in the most general sense. He still wasn't sure he could ever make the really big decisions. Maybe he would never be promoted again. In a way he sort of hoped he wouldn't. The pressure was enough as it was, and he didn't think he could really handle it. Especially without support. And he had no one to support him. But maybe he had a new friend now.
"A man, huh?" Warrick said, his thought process shifting. He smiled, though his scarf hid it, but it was clear in his eyes. And he reached out and rested a hand on one of Ace's shoulders. "I'd like to know you," he said firmly. And it was the truth, as it always was with Warrick. Whether you wanted it. He moved his eyes to the tent entrance briefly, noting that there was no sign of anyone going to sleep any time soon. "I suppose I could offer you food... You already know you're welcome to my bed. I don't go anywhere near it," he joked. "I'd offer you a dance but while I consider myself a gentleman, you are not a lady. I'm afraid I don't know how to entertain," he said, looking back at Ace with apologetic eyes.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 1:13 am
"Well, you said you trusted me when I was trying to escape. I didn't... I mean, I still don't understand why you trusted me not to run, but I have a feeling that you meant it." Ace said, as if he needed to explain himself to the older man. To be a thief and a criminal and hear that he was trusted... for some reason that actually meant something to the teenage boy.
Briefly his eyes flickered to the hand on his shoulder before he returned his eyes to Warrick's half hidden face. There was some something about the lt. colonel that was comforting in a way. He was kind of awkward. He was kind of shy. But there was a kind of warmness about him. Some kind of welcoming kindness that Ace couldn't really put his finger on. It was a comfortable feeling.
Maybe it was the fact that Warrick was so flawed. He was scarred inside and out. Yet there seemed to be a side of him that hoped and yearned and wanted. He seemed SO human, when Ace never had thought of a soldier as such. Soldiers were monsters and dogs. Soldiers killed his family. They stole his childhood. Yet here this man was, proving everything he had ever thought to be wrong.
"A dance AND your bed, huh? I'm sorry, lieutenant colonel, but I'm pretty sure that dogs and rats don't mix." Ace responded, smirking in the mischievous way that he had earlier. Of course, this was clearly a joke. The two men seemed to be on friendly terms despite their first encounter... and how fast they seemed to become... friends? Were they friends now? "I think I'll take you up on your offer for food though."
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 2:18 am
Yes, Warrick had said this. And he had meant it, too. Really he had plenty of reasons to trust Ace not to run. Ace seemed like a nice young man, and a smart one at that. And being smart meant Ace would know not to run at the wrong time. It was too risky and he had nowhere to go. In the end Warrick had let him go away, risking his career and thus his life, and yet here he was again!
This was a very curious happening indeed, but Warrick was thankful not to be lonely. He was thankful to have conversation, and someone he could mutually trust. Perhaps he and Ace were becoming friends, despite the fact that they should have been enemies. Ace had every reason to hate him, and he didn't. Warrick kept thinking this. And the more he thought it the more he felt appreciative of the younger man's presence.
He turned then to wander over toward the tent opening, but paused when he reached it. He looked back at Ace, "Please make yourself comfortable and excuse me. I will be back," he said, and then he stepped out. He wasn't hungry himself at all, but it wasn't odd for him to bring food back to his tent and eat alone. Another reason people called him a vampire was because no one ever saw him eat. After all, that would require his scarf coming off and... That just wasn't going to happen.
When he returned he went over immediately to wherever Ace had made himself comfortable and set the food down next to him. Then he turned and moved back over to his desk, where he sat down and picked up his bottle of whatever sort of alcohol he had and took a quick swig. Warrick wasn't really a drinker, but he found himself drinking more and more lately. It was something to do to pass the time. That probably wans't a good thing, but what else did he have to do?
"As long as we are getting to know each other, you should probably know that my favorite color is red, ironically, and I have no hobbies," he stated. It sounded like a joke, but odds were for War it was entirely true. He didn't do much else but work. His military life took up almost all of his time. The only other thing he really did was experiment occasionally with his alchemy. That was pretty interesting... And he was drinking... So...
He stood then, setting the bottle down and turning to open one of the drawers of his desk. He grabbed something from it, then moved over to where Ace was sitting. He lifted a bit of the carpet that was set down there so the floor was dirt, and then revealed what was in his hand. It was a small knife, and he drug it across one of his palms to cut it deep enough to spill a good amount of blood. Then he let it drip onto the dirt for a few moments. "There is a reason they call me that, and since you showed me yours,..." he trailed off.
Once there was enough blood on the ground Warrick drug his finger over it to draw a transmutation circle in the dirt and blood itself. And when he pressed his hands to it was only took a few moments for the ground to become disturbed and then a plant sprouted up from it. It grew to be a very small rosebush and one single red rose bloomed it on. Warrick moved his hands, picked up his knife, and cut the flower. He offered it to Ace, "I can turn blood into other organic material. Only natural things, and what I can make it into depends on the amount," he explained. His alchemy was the one thing he had complete pride in. This was clear.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 2:57 am
When Warrick returned, he would find that Ace had made himself comfortable on the older man's cot where he tended to end up. Since Warrick's favored spot seemed to be at his desk.
The young man reached up and adjusted his hat briefly, pulling it back a little bit so that the brim wasn't so much in his face. He looked up at the lt. colonel when he finally returned to the tent and set the plate full of food beside him. It was very clear at this point that Ace would never turn down free food. He had to work hard enough for what he got in the first place. Warrick probably knew this by now.
"Thanks." Ace said with a grateful smile, picking up the the plate and setting it upon his lap. He picked up the fork, ((assuming that there was one)) though he glanced back up at the military man when he spoke to him. "Mine is green." He commented before Warrick wandered over to where he was sitting currently on the cot.
The teenage boy watched curiously as Warrick lifted the carpet and spilled his own blood into the dirt. Ace was definitely interested to say the least. His eyes widened just a little bit in a mildly surprised expression as the plant sprouted from the ground. And then the lt. colonel was offering the rose that had bloomed where he had let his blood fall. Ace eyed it for a moment, then glanced back at Warrick. After a moment, he took the rose between his fingers.
"Interesting." The young alchemist said honestly, briefly twirling the flower between his fingers. He brought the petals to his face to take in it's scent. Alchemy really was an extraordinary thing. "It's pretty cool that you can make something so beautiful out of something that most people deem unpleasant unless it is inside of you."
For a moment or so, Ace continued to stare at the rose in a strangely fond manner. But then he seemed to come back to the current situation and set the rose beside him on the cot so he could turn his attention back to the plate of food in his lap, picking up the fork once more.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:14 am
"That is a nice way to think about it. Unfortunately, most people don't think about it that way. There really isn't any reason to find blood unpleasant, but I suppose it is justifiable to think it so when it is spilled. It's not meant to be in most cases. But it is life, and creating life from it or anything else natural isn't such a disgusting thing," he was really sort of just thinking out loud now.
"However," he had been kneeling on the ground near Ace and now he moved onto the cot to sit next to him, "I'm going to be a monster either way, aren't I? Despite the fact that spilled blood is a terrible waste in the first place and making something of it should be a good thing, it is always going to be something people find incredibly distasteful. And if I am not a monster for the way I look, or for my profession, it is for the one thing I can do right. Sometimes right is apparently... Wrong," he shrugged lightly.
Warrick tended to be a logical man, and being that he was, he knew the way people would always look at him. He had learned not to let it bother him. It was his own fault in some ways, he supposed, because he never let people see who he really was. Not only his face, but... Really, Warrick never talked this much. He didn't know why he was opening up to Ace. Perhaps he also felt the strange bond. They had shared their sorrows with one another, and their talents. Maybe this was real friendship, something he had never really had. It was even different from talking with Fiona.
"At the risk of being inappropriate, I should probably also tell you that..." he stopped. No, some things didn't need to be said. Why was he evening thinking about that? He glanced at the rose briefly, letting his eyes linger on the vivid red color for just a moment, then looked back up at Ace. Yes, some things didn't need to be said. He sighed very lightly, and shifted his eyes to one of the lanterns and it's dancing flame. "Anyway, I'm glad that you came back, for whatever reason you did," he said instead.
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