FIC: The City Over the Mountain (4/9) - (PG-13) - Fullmetal Alchemist
Title: The City Over the Mountain (4/9)
Author: Zippit
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Timeline: Post Manga/Brotherhood
Character(s)/Pairing(s): established Roy Mustang/Edward Elric, OCs
Rating: PG-13
Content Notes: N/A
Word Count: 3,626 / 25,070
Completed: March 15, 2013
Challenge: 2012 round of fmabigbang
Prompt: Wonderful picture by bob_fish found here.
Disclaimer: The characters portrayed within are not mine. This is merely a loving response to the original work.
Author’s Notes: The picture I received from bob_fish was utterly gorgeous and I'm just pleased I could write something to accompany it. Hope you enjoy!
Summary: When a clandestine mission to Aerugo doesn't go as planned, Roy and Ed stumble upon an unknown civilization with unexpected ties to their past and designs on their future that may not allow them to return to Amestris.
Roy isn’t sure what he was expecting on the other side, but it was nothing like what they’re greeted with. The foyer is warmly lit with a hall table to the left and intricate paintings like those carved on the archway hang on the walls. Nothing about this place screams of a threat. The floor under their feet is covered with plush carpet and gives every indication that this was a home first and foremost.
The doorways he can glimpse opening further down the hallway exude as much welcome as the foyer. Some of them are as warmly lit as where they’re standing while others are dark. Roy isn’t certain of the proper etiquette for traipsing about in someone’s home from a previously unknown civilization. “Edward, maybe we should stay here until we’re called for.”
Ed snorts, which causes Roy to look at him. “And what if they don’t know we’re here? If we wandered around we could gain some information. We could figure out what they might need us for or something else about them they wouldn’t want us to know.”
“And what if we do something to offend them? And get ourselves sentenced to death without a second thought?” They’ve barely been here two seconds and Ed already wants to go haring off on into danger like always. “Wandering off right now would be too dangerous.”
“Have you been sitting behind that desk in Eastern Command so long you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be in the field?”
“I’ve done no such thing,” he hisses back. He’s run plenty of operations from behind a desk. Ed’s even been there for many of the more recent ones. He should know exactly how complicated and dangerous they are. He is not the pencil pusher and womanizer he appears to most people.
Ed steps closer and pokes a finger against his chest. “Then why the fuck are we still standing out here in the open when we should be looking for cover or intel?”
Roy blinks. Ed has a point there. Maybe he is a little rusty, but the better question is when did Ed learn a modicum of military training? As far as he remembers, anything that smacked of tactical maneuvers had been brushed off with Ed’s usual disdain. “When we have a moment to ourselves, you and I are going to have a long discussion.”
The rolled eyes are familiar, and as he’s about to haul Ed off down the hall into one of those darkened rooms, a figure approaches from one of the lit ones. They’re dressed in long flowing robes, almost like those of Ishval, but the designs tracing over the cloth are different. The robe is also more tightly cut, flattering the figure instead of causing the wearer to disappear into the folds. As the figure comes closer, Roy can see he’s male with his hair framing his face. “Ah, welcome. You must be our newly arrived guests.” He clasps his hands together and bows.
Roy looks at Ed and receives a shrug in return before they both look forward again and copy the man’s gesture and bow. At least he can trust Ed to be polite when the situation calls for it. “Yes, we’re happy to be here, but you’ll have to excuse us if we don’t know exactly where here is.”
“Oh there is much to discuss between us. There is also much you must tell us about the land outside the City of Hohenheim.”
Ed tenses beside him. He’s never heard much about Ed’s father from Ed directly and the status of their relationship after the Promised Day had never been made clear to him. The anger coming off Ed is palpable though and he only hopes Ed can hold his rage in check. “Is that what this place is called?”
The man nods at Ed. “Yes, indeed. Without the Great Hohenheim, we would not be what we are today. But first, you must be tired and hungry. Let us have a feast first before we talk about serious matters.”
Their new host turns and heads down the hallway with the obvious expectation that they follow. After a moment of hesitation, they follow. It wasn’t the welcome either of them had been expecting. “Oh, forgive me but you may call me Jonathan.” He turns back to them with a smile. “You’ll meet many more of us before the day’s through.”
He leads them past the doorway he’d appeared from and further down the hall. From the outside and the time they’d been standing in the entryway, there had been no sense of scale, but as they continue further and further along the hall, Roy has the sense this place is immense. It might possibly be a central meeting place. What else would explain the immensity?
Jonathan pauses beside one of the warmly lit doorways. “If you’ll hand me your packs?” There’s no getting around it and he and Ed shrug out of them and pass them over. There’s nothing that would endanger them if Jonathan decides to riffle through them, but Roy doesn’t think they’ll have to worry about that. Jonathan smiles then gestures them through the doorway. “Our leaders are very excited to converse with you. It’s been many years since we’ve had visitors like you.”
Roy gives a slight smile in return. All his instincts are telling him to run the other way. He’s walking into this blind and while he’s certain he and Ed can handle themselves if it turned into a fight, he’d rather not risk that right now. But it’s not like either of them can refuse without the appearance of being rude. “Thank you,” he murmurs after a moment and steps past Jonathan into the interior of the room, Ed only a step behind him.
Arrayed before them at a large round table are a number of women and a few men. Is this society mostly female compared to the one they came from? He hesitates then presses his hands together like Jonathan did earlier and bows. “It is an honor to be here, esteemed leaders.”
There’s a soft rustle of voices around the table and then one voice rises above the others. “You are welcome too, visitor. Please join us for our meal. We shall begin the process of acquainting ourselves with each other after.” Roy straightens and he’s greeted with a warm smile from the woman who had spoken. She looks comfortably aged, older than him, but not quite as old as Madame Christmas. Power must come early in this society or maybe it’s an inherited position.
Two chairs are brought forth from the side of the room by two of the people that had been sitting. They’re placed at the nearest side to them and directly across from the woman who had spoken. Roy glances at Ed and he seems to have a decent hold on his anger. The only signs of it are the tightness in his shoulders and the slightly strained way he moves. Better than he’d hoped for.
They seat themselves and surprisingly there are two place settings exactly where the chairs were placed. They were expected but obviously weren’t meant to see that initially. Their arrival could hardly have been mistaken for being unknown. Food gets passed around the table in large containers where people help themselves to as much as they like. Compared to Ed’s plate, his own is rather sparse and he doesn’t think either of them miss the amused looks that pass between some of the others at the table as Ed starts to eat.
The conversation flows around them concerning topics that on the surface seem familiar like water levels and food production, but soon turn into something incomprehensible with unfamiliar terms discussed. He and Ed don’t say much as they eat. On his part, he’s carefully observing everything occurring around them. Ed’s probably too busy feasting his starving stomach. He’s had it explained to him a time or two how the transmutation linked Ed and Al’s bodies, but that doesn’t explain how Ed still has the same enormous appetite now that Al’s back in his own body.
He’s pretty certain they were allowed to eat without interruption if the curious and concerned gazes directed discreetly their way are any indication. Just how much had the mist had transmitted back to these people? Hopefully, about as much as when they interacted with it directly. Roy sips at the water glass he’d been provided and tries to identity the role of each person at the table.
The woman who spoke to them is obviously the leader. Her hair’s tied back in a bun and she peers down her nose while speaking to others like she’s normally accustomed to perched glasses. Does this society have glasses? He hasn’t seen any indication, but they have windows so it wouldn’t be too far of a leap to have them. Her robes are highlighted in light blue with green panels. To the right sits a young woman that shares the same kind eyes and mouth and is obviously either a daughter or other close relation. Her robes are trimmed in red with dark purple panels. They must represent some sort of status as everyone else arrayed around the table has similar designs of varying colors on their robes.
Everyone at the table ranges in age from the moderately young to the middle age. The few men at the table lean more toward the middle of that range than either end. They are the ones more intent on observing him and Ed than carrying on conversation. They interject here and there when required, but other than that keep looking in his and Ed’s direction. The scrutiny isn’t anything new, if anything, it only straightens his spine and his resolve to appear as nothing more than puzzled travelers brought here by the mist.
The mens’ robes are a darker shade of tan and make the light colored thread stand out more. Instead of the flowing, intricate design of the women’s robes, theirs are bold to accent the same straightforward cut of their robes. An indication of fashion or more likely larger hands making small stitches hard to do?
Several glances from both males and females toward Ed bleed awe and fascination. A worrying combination that could work in their favor. What could their interest in Ed be? They know little about either of them aside from whatever observations had urged them to send the mist.
The attention of everyone seated around the table focuses on them as Ed wipes his mouth and appears done with his dinner. He sits more upright and tilts his head slightly at Mustang. He gives a subtle shrug of his shoulders in response. They can’t just simply walk out. They probably want to ask them simple questions, but it could get difficult if what they’re asked isn’t something either of them are willing to answer.
“Now that you’ve finished your meal, we would like to introduce ourselves and why you’ve been brought to our city.” The same woman that had spoken earlier speaks again. “I am Edith and to my side sits my daughter, Margaret.” She nods at them and gives a slight smile. “We oversee the city with gracious help from our fellow guild leaders.”
Next a man with dark brown hair and light grey eyes bows his head. “I am Elijah. Dominick,” he indicates a fair haired man with blue eyes and wide green panels shot through with waves of blue, “and I oversee dealings with creations like the mist you dealt with.”
Roy arches an eyebrow. There are more fantastical things like the mist created in this city? He and Ed will need to earn themselves allowances to explore that aspect of life here more thoroughly. It would be an invaluable asset to have in Amestris.
Next to Elijah sits a woman with dark hair curling to her shoulders who smiles before she says, “And I’m Marissa, head of protection measures. It’s been a long time since we’ve had visitors.”
A man younger than Elijah and Dominick with piercing green eyes nods. He places a hand against his chest. “Adam and I, Michael, oversee the maintenance of the city’s structures. There is much we should discuss later.”
There are several other speakers with important functions, but the names and faces begin to blur. Normally, he’s better at this, but it’s been a tiring day. A new culture, hidden away in the depths of the mountains, protected by mysterious means that may or may not be alchemical, and tied to Ed’s father. There haven’t been any overt threats yet, but that doesn’t mean one won’t appear the longer they remain in this city. Roy nods politely at each speaker and tries to cement a recollection of their faces and titles. More time individually with each would help.
Once the introductions are over, Roy inclines his head and looks at each of them. “I am Roy Mustang. We were rather surprised by the revelation of your city, but I, for one, am pleased to sit among you now.”
He hears Ed snort softly beside him and hopes no one else heard. They don’t have the time for Ed to be his surly self despite what this city might stir in him. He pushes his plate forward and rests a fist on the table edge. “I’m Edward Elric and I have to learn more about that mist and those foxes.”
Smiles and soft chuckles spread around the table. He didn’t insult them right off the bat. Roy will take that as a win, and if Ed gets the information he wants, Roy’ll count it as a bonus. He turns his attention to Edith as she clears her throat.
“Now that we’ve made ourselves known, we should tell you why we’ve brought you here,” Edith says. She folds her hands on the table and directs her gaze at Ed. “You we recognized as the son of our long ago founder, Hohenheim. There was no mistaking you as you look remarkably like him.”
Roy watches Ed peripherally who doesn’t scowl like Roy’s certain he wants to. His jaw tightens and the hand not already on the table fists in his lap.
“And you, Roy Mustang, we didn’t think it wise to separate the two of you as you exhibited the same ability we are dearly in need of right now.”
They’d been observed since that moment on the trail? Just how advanced were these people’s alchemical abilities? Roy’s torn between fascination and alarm. They could benefit from an exchange of information but at what cost?
“Wait, what? How’d you even know about that? We weren’t even in the clearing then. We were still on that treacherous trail.” Ed’s shifted to the edge of his seat and has directed that bright focused attention on Edith. Roy doesn’t envy her.
“Well, you should know that Hohenheim built that trail and inlaid some unique protections for our use. Fortunately, they’ve required minimal maintenance over the long period since Hohenheim’s last visit.”
“When was that last visit?” Ed says with a snap and Roy hopes fervently for an answer of hundreds if not thousands of years.
A low murmur of voices fill the room as the arrayed leaders look at each other and speak. Edith looks at her daughter for a moment then back to Ed. What do they make of Ed and his obvious anger toward their storied founder? Do they excuse it or is it an insult? The situation’s already complicated enough. “It’s been many lifetimes since we last saw the great Hohenheim. At least several dozen leaders before me have passed between his last visit and now. Why do you ask?”
Ed looks mulish and for several long seconds he doesn’t think Ed will answer. He has no idea the consequences that would bring upon them when Hohenheim is held in such esteem. They’ve extended that to Ed and him, but how far will that go? Ed takes a breath and looks at a point in the middle of the table, meeting no one’s eyes. “He was gone for most of my life. I wondered if he’d come here while he was gone.”
Ed hadn’t mentioned his brother at all. Why wouldn’t he? Normally, he couldn’t stop going on about everything Al was doing and why he was doing it. Had they mentioned Al while they were climbing? Maybe not. The less these people knew about them the better.
A sad look rests on Edith’s face now and Ed can’t be taking that well though he’s holding his tongue. “I’m sorry to hear of that, Edward. No one should ever be separated from their family for so long. Here in the city, we value the time spent with family to the utmost. As such a unique community, we try and cherish every life.”
Those around the table nod in agreement and Roy gets an uneasy feeling. It feels too eerily like Bradley’s table of generals who’d supported him unquestioningly. What about those that seek to leave the city? How are they treated? “Of course. It’s only natural. This city is a stunning ecosystem unto itself.”
Ed shifts to look at him quizzically at the edge of his vision but it’s Edith he’s focused on. She smiles brightly in return and nods. “Yes, yes, it provides everything we could ever need. We live in peace and prosperity while still being able to observe the outside world to an extent.”
Margaret rests a hand on her mother’s arm then interjects, “We’re also developing a policy that would allow more of us to explore the outside world.”
Edith squeezes her daughter’s hand, but there’s a downturn to her lips. She doesn’t approve. Interesting. Maybe they can use that to their advantage. He glances at Ed and he’s clearly more interested than he was before. He never could resist a puzzle, and Roy has to admit he’s curious himself. But first, they need to be sure they can extract themselves from the city with little issue.
Edith picks up where she’d left off. “Yes, many of our young ones have become curious about the outside in the past few generations, more than they should be. The clamor has grown and we’re attempting to address it.” She clears her throat and Margaret slides back in her chair almost a little sullenly. A topic of contention between the two and a quick survey of the table shows divided opinions too. It's a delicate and dangerous situation indeed.
“You said you required our help to repair Hohenheim’s protections?” Roy says mildly. He has a feeling he knows why the protections are failing now after hundreds of years of no issues. Was their presence here all that voluntary? The mist wouldn’t have let them go back the way they’d come, and Edith seems to have already decided they’d be on her side in this matter.
“Yes, that brings us back to the more pressing matter. Over the history of our city, those protections have withstood a great many forces, from earthquakes to droughts to internal and external strife, with only minor fluctuations in their strength. They’ve always been reliable. We’ve had little issue with using them in the past, but over the last two leaders and into my time as leader, the fluctuations have grown.”
Those seated around the table shift uneasy. Some look away, others play with their robe sleeves or the cutlery before them. An uncomfortable topic and obviously why he and Ed are meeting with the guild leaders. It wouldn’t do to alarm the public unnecessarily.
“No longer as minor as they were, they have flickered wildly in stability. Our protections have failed us without warning and sometimes to disastrous effect.” A dark shadow crosses her face but she shakes her head as if chasing a horrible image off. “We have endured and tried to bring Hohenheim the Great back to his city to no avail. We’ve even sent several parties out into the world looking for him but none succeeded or have ever returned.”
Ed’s drumming his fingers along the edge of the table and Roy knows that look. His mind’s spinning a thousand different directions while he pulls all those disparate thoughts into a cohesive argument. “Just to be clear, he never taught me anything about your protections. I never even knew this city existed until today. The fixing of your protections will not happen quickly. We’ll need to fully understand them before we can figure out what’s making them fluctuate.”
An elegant ploy for full informational access if Roy ever saw one. He has to give Ed credit. He really has grown up in the aftermath of the Promised Day. Roy takes a sip from his water glass to hide his slight frown. Hopefully, Ed’s request will be granted though even if it is granted, there is much more to this than they could ever learn in only a few days. The guild leaders look nothing but accepting, though a few hold something more in their gazes. Roy’s uneasy at being uncertain of what that might be. Margaret is among them and that may not bode well for him and Ed.
Edith tilts her head and directs a look toward Marissa who nods in return then another look directed toward a lightly tanned young woman whose name Roy doesn’t remember. Another look to a young man that’s darker than the young woman. Edith receives nods in return from both and smiles. “It’s settled then. You shall have access to all the information and resources you require to understand our problem and aid us to the best of your ability.”
Previous | Index | Next
Author: Zippit
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Timeline: Post Manga/Brotherhood
Character(s)/Pairing(s): established Roy Mustang/Edward Elric, OCs
Rating: PG-13
Content Notes: N/A
Word Count: 3,626 / 25,070
Completed: March 15, 2013
Challenge: 2012 round of fmabigbang
Prompt: Wonderful picture by bob_fish found here.
Disclaimer: The characters portrayed within are not mine. This is merely a loving response to the original work.
Author’s Notes: The picture I received from bob_fish was utterly gorgeous and I'm just pleased I could write something to accompany it. Hope you enjoy!
Summary: When a clandestine mission to Aerugo doesn't go as planned, Roy and Ed stumble upon an unknown civilization with unexpected ties to their past and designs on their future that may not allow them to return to Amestris.
Roy isn’t sure what he was expecting on the other side, but it was nothing like what they’re greeted with. The foyer is warmly lit with a hall table to the left and intricate paintings like those carved on the archway hang on the walls. Nothing about this place screams of a threat. The floor under their feet is covered with plush carpet and gives every indication that this was a home first and foremost.
The doorways he can glimpse opening further down the hallway exude as much welcome as the foyer. Some of them are as warmly lit as where they’re standing while others are dark. Roy isn’t certain of the proper etiquette for traipsing about in someone’s home from a previously unknown civilization. “Edward, maybe we should stay here until we’re called for.”
Ed snorts, which causes Roy to look at him. “And what if they don’t know we’re here? If we wandered around we could gain some information. We could figure out what they might need us for or something else about them they wouldn’t want us to know.”
“And what if we do something to offend them? And get ourselves sentenced to death without a second thought?” They’ve barely been here two seconds and Ed already wants to go haring off on into danger like always. “Wandering off right now would be too dangerous.”
“Have you been sitting behind that desk in Eastern Command so long you’ve forgotten what it’s like to be in the field?”
“I’ve done no such thing,” he hisses back. He’s run plenty of operations from behind a desk. Ed’s even been there for many of the more recent ones. He should know exactly how complicated and dangerous they are. He is not the pencil pusher and womanizer he appears to most people.
Ed steps closer and pokes a finger against his chest. “Then why the fuck are we still standing out here in the open when we should be looking for cover or intel?”
Roy blinks. Ed has a point there. Maybe he is a little rusty, but the better question is when did Ed learn a modicum of military training? As far as he remembers, anything that smacked of tactical maneuvers had been brushed off with Ed’s usual disdain. “When we have a moment to ourselves, you and I are going to have a long discussion.”
The rolled eyes are familiar, and as he’s about to haul Ed off down the hall into one of those darkened rooms, a figure approaches from one of the lit ones. They’re dressed in long flowing robes, almost like those of Ishval, but the designs tracing over the cloth are different. The robe is also more tightly cut, flattering the figure instead of causing the wearer to disappear into the folds. As the figure comes closer, Roy can see he’s male with his hair framing his face. “Ah, welcome. You must be our newly arrived guests.” He clasps his hands together and bows.
Roy looks at Ed and receives a shrug in return before they both look forward again and copy the man’s gesture and bow. At least he can trust Ed to be polite when the situation calls for it. “Yes, we’re happy to be here, but you’ll have to excuse us if we don’t know exactly where here is.”
“Oh there is much to discuss between us. There is also much you must tell us about the land outside the City of Hohenheim.”
Ed tenses beside him. He’s never heard much about Ed’s father from Ed directly and the status of their relationship after the Promised Day had never been made clear to him. The anger coming off Ed is palpable though and he only hopes Ed can hold his rage in check. “Is that what this place is called?”
The man nods at Ed. “Yes, indeed. Without the Great Hohenheim, we would not be what we are today. But first, you must be tired and hungry. Let us have a feast first before we talk about serious matters.”
Their new host turns and heads down the hallway with the obvious expectation that they follow. After a moment of hesitation, they follow. It wasn’t the welcome either of them had been expecting. “Oh, forgive me but you may call me Jonathan.” He turns back to them with a smile. “You’ll meet many more of us before the day’s through.”
He leads them past the doorway he’d appeared from and further down the hall. From the outside and the time they’d been standing in the entryway, there had been no sense of scale, but as they continue further and further along the hall, Roy has the sense this place is immense. It might possibly be a central meeting place. What else would explain the immensity?
Jonathan pauses beside one of the warmly lit doorways. “If you’ll hand me your packs?” There’s no getting around it and he and Ed shrug out of them and pass them over. There’s nothing that would endanger them if Jonathan decides to riffle through them, but Roy doesn’t think they’ll have to worry about that. Jonathan smiles then gestures them through the doorway. “Our leaders are very excited to converse with you. It’s been many years since we’ve had visitors like you.”
Roy gives a slight smile in return. All his instincts are telling him to run the other way. He’s walking into this blind and while he’s certain he and Ed can handle themselves if it turned into a fight, he’d rather not risk that right now. But it’s not like either of them can refuse without the appearance of being rude. “Thank you,” he murmurs after a moment and steps past Jonathan into the interior of the room, Ed only a step behind him.
Arrayed before them at a large round table are a number of women and a few men. Is this society mostly female compared to the one they came from? He hesitates then presses his hands together like Jonathan did earlier and bows. “It is an honor to be here, esteemed leaders.”
There’s a soft rustle of voices around the table and then one voice rises above the others. “You are welcome too, visitor. Please join us for our meal. We shall begin the process of acquainting ourselves with each other after.” Roy straightens and he’s greeted with a warm smile from the woman who had spoken. She looks comfortably aged, older than him, but not quite as old as Madame Christmas. Power must come early in this society or maybe it’s an inherited position.
Two chairs are brought forth from the side of the room by two of the people that had been sitting. They’re placed at the nearest side to them and directly across from the woman who had spoken. Roy glances at Ed and he seems to have a decent hold on his anger. The only signs of it are the tightness in his shoulders and the slightly strained way he moves. Better than he’d hoped for.
They seat themselves and surprisingly there are two place settings exactly where the chairs were placed. They were expected but obviously weren’t meant to see that initially. Their arrival could hardly have been mistaken for being unknown. Food gets passed around the table in large containers where people help themselves to as much as they like. Compared to Ed’s plate, his own is rather sparse and he doesn’t think either of them miss the amused looks that pass between some of the others at the table as Ed starts to eat.
The conversation flows around them concerning topics that on the surface seem familiar like water levels and food production, but soon turn into something incomprehensible with unfamiliar terms discussed. He and Ed don’t say much as they eat. On his part, he’s carefully observing everything occurring around them. Ed’s probably too busy feasting his starving stomach. He’s had it explained to him a time or two how the transmutation linked Ed and Al’s bodies, but that doesn’t explain how Ed still has the same enormous appetite now that Al’s back in his own body.
He’s pretty certain they were allowed to eat without interruption if the curious and concerned gazes directed discreetly their way are any indication. Just how much had the mist had transmitted back to these people? Hopefully, about as much as when they interacted with it directly. Roy sips at the water glass he’d been provided and tries to identity the role of each person at the table.
The woman who spoke to them is obviously the leader. Her hair’s tied back in a bun and she peers down her nose while speaking to others like she’s normally accustomed to perched glasses. Does this society have glasses? He hasn’t seen any indication, but they have windows so it wouldn’t be too far of a leap to have them. Her robes are highlighted in light blue with green panels. To the right sits a young woman that shares the same kind eyes and mouth and is obviously either a daughter or other close relation. Her robes are trimmed in red with dark purple panels. They must represent some sort of status as everyone else arrayed around the table has similar designs of varying colors on their robes.
Everyone at the table ranges in age from the moderately young to the middle age. The few men at the table lean more toward the middle of that range than either end. They are the ones more intent on observing him and Ed than carrying on conversation. They interject here and there when required, but other than that keep looking in his and Ed’s direction. The scrutiny isn’t anything new, if anything, it only straightens his spine and his resolve to appear as nothing more than puzzled travelers brought here by the mist.
The mens’ robes are a darker shade of tan and make the light colored thread stand out more. Instead of the flowing, intricate design of the women’s robes, theirs are bold to accent the same straightforward cut of their robes. An indication of fashion or more likely larger hands making small stitches hard to do?
Several glances from both males and females toward Ed bleed awe and fascination. A worrying combination that could work in their favor. What could their interest in Ed be? They know little about either of them aside from whatever observations had urged them to send the mist.
The attention of everyone seated around the table focuses on them as Ed wipes his mouth and appears done with his dinner. He sits more upright and tilts his head slightly at Mustang. He gives a subtle shrug of his shoulders in response. They can’t just simply walk out. They probably want to ask them simple questions, but it could get difficult if what they’re asked isn’t something either of them are willing to answer.
“Now that you’ve finished your meal, we would like to introduce ourselves and why you’ve been brought to our city.” The same woman that had spoken earlier speaks again. “I am Edith and to my side sits my daughter, Margaret.” She nods at them and gives a slight smile. “We oversee the city with gracious help from our fellow guild leaders.”
Next a man with dark brown hair and light grey eyes bows his head. “I am Elijah. Dominick,” he indicates a fair haired man with blue eyes and wide green panels shot through with waves of blue, “and I oversee dealings with creations like the mist you dealt with.”
Roy arches an eyebrow. There are more fantastical things like the mist created in this city? He and Ed will need to earn themselves allowances to explore that aspect of life here more thoroughly. It would be an invaluable asset to have in Amestris.
Next to Elijah sits a woman with dark hair curling to her shoulders who smiles before she says, “And I’m Marissa, head of protection measures. It’s been a long time since we’ve had visitors.”
A man younger than Elijah and Dominick with piercing green eyes nods. He places a hand against his chest. “Adam and I, Michael, oversee the maintenance of the city’s structures. There is much we should discuss later.”
There are several other speakers with important functions, but the names and faces begin to blur. Normally, he’s better at this, but it’s been a tiring day. A new culture, hidden away in the depths of the mountains, protected by mysterious means that may or may not be alchemical, and tied to Ed’s father. There haven’t been any overt threats yet, but that doesn’t mean one won’t appear the longer they remain in this city. Roy nods politely at each speaker and tries to cement a recollection of their faces and titles. More time individually with each would help.
Once the introductions are over, Roy inclines his head and looks at each of them. “I am Roy Mustang. We were rather surprised by the revelation of your city, but I, for one, am pleased to sit among you now.”
He hears Ed snort softly beside him and hopes no one else heard. They don’t have the time for Ed to be his surly self despite what this city might stir in him. He pushes his plate forward and rests a fist on the table edge. “I’m Edward Elric and I have to learn more about that mist and those foxes.”
Smiles and soft chuckles spread around the table. He didn’t insult them right off the bat. Roy will take that as a win, and if Ed gets the information he wants, Roy’ll count it as a bonus. He turns his attention to Edith as she clears her throat.
“Now that we’ve made ourselves known, we should tell you why we’ve brought you here,” Edith says. She folds her hands on the table and directs her gaze at Ed. “You we recognized as the son of our long ago founder, Hohenheim. There was no mistaking you as you look remarkably like him.”
Roy watches Ed peripherally who doesn’t scowl like Roy’s certain he wants to. His jaw tightens and the hand not already on the table fists in his lap.
“And you, Roy Mustang, we didn’t think it wise to separate the two of you as you exhibited the same ability we are dearly in need of right now.”
They’d been observed since that moment on the trail? Just how advanced were these people’s alchemical abilities? Roy’s torn between fascination and alarm. They could benefit from an exchange of information but at what cost?
“Wait, what? How’d you even know about that? We weren’t even in the clearing then. We were still on that treacherous trail.” Ed’s shifted to the edge of his seat and has directed that bright focused attention on Edith. Roy doesn’t envy her.
“Well, you should know that Hohenheim built that trail and inlaid some unique protections for our use. Fortunately, they’ve required minimal maintenance over the long period since Hohenheim’s last visit.”
“When was that last visit?” Ed says with a snap and Roy hopes fervently for an answer of hundreds if not thousands of years.
A low murmur of voices fill the room as the arrayed leaders look at each other and speak. Edith looks at her daughter for a moment then back to Ed. What do they make of Ed and his obvious anger toward their storied founder? Do they excuse it or is it an insult? The situation’s already complicated enough. “It’s been many lifetimes since we last saw the great Hohenheim. At least several dozen leaders before me have passed between his last visit and now. Why do you ask?”
Ed looks mulish and for several long seconds he doesn’t think Ed will answer. He has no idea the consequences that would bring upon them when Hohenheim is held in such esteem. They’ve extended that to Ed and him, but how far will that go? Ed takes a breath and looks at a point in the middle of the table, meeting no one’s eyes. “He was gone for most of my life. I wondered if he’d come here while he was gone.”
Ed hadn’t mentioned his brother at all. Why wouldn’t he? Normally, he couldn’t stop going on about everything Al was doing and why he was doing it. Had they mentioned Al while they were climbing? Maybe not. The less these people knew about them the better.
A sad look rests on Edith’s face now and Ed can’t be taking that well though he’s holding his tongue. “I’m sorry to hear of that, Edward. No one should ever be separated from their family for so long. Here in the city, we value the time spent with family to the utmost. As such a unique community, we try and cherish every life.”
Those around the table nod in agreement and Roy gets an uneasy feeling. It feels too eerily like Bradley’s table of generals who’d supported him unquestioningly. What about those that seek to leave the city? How are they treated? “Of course. It’s only natural. This city is a stunning ecosystem unto itself.”
Ed shifts to look at him quizzically at the edge of his vision but it’s Edith he’s focused on. She smiles brightly in return and nods. “Yes, yes, it provides everything we could ever need. We live in peace and prosperity while still being able to observe the outside world to an extent.”
Margaret rests a hand on her mother’s arm then interjects, “We’re also developing a policy that would allow more of us to explore the outside world.”
Edith squeezes her daughter’s hand, but there’s a downturn to her lips. She doesn’t approve. Interesting. Maybe they can use that to their advantage. He glances at Ed and he’s clearly more interested than he was before. He never could resist a puzzle, and Roy has to admit he’s curious himself. But first, they need to be sure they can extract themselves from the city with little issue.
Edith picks up where she’d left off. “Yes, many of our young ones have become curious about the outside in the past few generations, more than they should be. The clamor has grown and we’re attempting to address it.” She clears her throat and Margaret slides back in her chair almost a little sullenly. A topic of contention between the two and a quick survey of the table shows divided opinions too. It's a delicate and dangerous situation indeed.
“You said you required our help to repair Hohenheim’s protections?” Roy says mildly. He has a feeling he knows why the protections are failing now after hundreds of years of no issues. Was their presence here all that voluntary? The mist wouldn’t have let them go back the way they’d come, and Edith seems to have already decided they’d be on her side in this matter.
“Yes, that brings us back to the more pressing matter. Over the history of our city, those protections have withstood a great many forces, from earthquakes to droughts to internal and external strife, with only minor fluctuations in their strength. They’ve always been reliable. We’ve had little issue with using them in the past, but over the last two leaders and into my time as leader, the fluctuations have grown.”
Those seated around the table shift uneasy. Some look away, others play with their robe sleeves or the cutlery before them. An uncomfortable topic and obviously why he and Ed are meeting with the guild leaders. It wouldn’t do to alarm the public unnecessarily.
“No longer as minor as they were, they have flickered wildly in stability. Our protections have failed us without warning and sometimes to disastrous effect.” A dark shadow crosses her face but she shakes her head as if chasing a horrible image off. “We have endured and tried to bring Hohenheim the Great back to his city to no avail. We’ve even sent several parties out into the world looking for him but none succeeded or have ever returned.”
Ed’s drumming his fingers along the edge of the table and Roy knows that look. His mind’s spinning a thousand different directions while he pulls all those disparate thoughts into a cohesive argument. “Just to be clear, he never taught me anything about your protections. I never even knew this city existed until today. The fixing of your protections will not happen quickly. We’ll need to fully understand them before we can figure out what’s making them fluctuate.”
An elegant ploy for full informational access if Roy ever saw one. He has to give Ed credit. He really has grown up in the aftermath of the Promised Day. Roy takes a sip from his water glass to hide his slight frown. Hopefully, Ed’s request will be granted though even if it is granted, there is much more to this than they could ever learn in only a few days. The guild leaders look nothing but accepting, though a few hold something more in their gazes. Roy’s uneasy at being uncertain of what that might be. Margaret is among them and that may not bode well for him and Ed.
Edith tilts her head and directs a look toward Marissa who nods in return then another look directed toward a lightly tanned young woman whose name Roy doesn’t remember. Another look to a young man that’s darker than the young woman. Edith receives nods in return from both and smiles. “It’s settled then. You shall have access to all the information and resources you require to understand our problem and aid us to the best of your ability.”
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