1

[xerxesalchemist]

[Action for housemate] [Trisha, there's someone next to you. He's fast asleep, kind of sprawling everywhere in the bed, all bony knees and elbows, golden hair loose and fanned across the pillows.]

[Action for anyone]

[Van's gotten the basic rundown, even had the entire problem of timelines explained. Now, he's just exploring. He could probably be mistaken for Edward Elric at first glance, the same golden eyes and long gold-blond hair, but his build is different (thinner, for one thing), and he's kind of lost-looking (but not frantic, not obviously looking for anyone), and he's wearing basic Mayfield clothes but no shoes.

Maybe Ed and Al had a brother they never mentioned before.]

Comments

[xerxesalchemist]

[But he's used to eating with his fingers! The fork just confuses him, and he fumbles with it, trying to get the egg stabbed and then into his mouth.]

Uh. Basic stuff. I just started.

[nurture]

Can you show me something? Anything!

[she looks so delighted at this prospect

come on hohopapa show off your badass..... newbie skills....]

[xerxesalchemist]

[His badass newbie skills without regaining his ability to do alchemy. This will end well.]

You got any chalk?

[nurture]

[whoops Trisha isn't used to this regain business not having any 'ability' herself haha... this will be fun!]

Chalk? --Mm! Hold on just one second, dear.

[she's going to disappear into the other room and return with children's chalk she bought for the drone children, handing it over with a smile.]

Will this work...?

[xerxesalchemist]

[He shrugs.]

It should.

[He brushes off a spot on the table, then carefully draws out a simple array. Hands on the table, then a careful breath and he pulls for the energy in the earth that he's learned to feel for. But, it's not there. He can't feel it.]

What the hell?

[nurture]

What's the matter?

[his expression is bewildered, and she looks equally puzzled too. did something happen?]

[xerxesalchemist]

It's, uh... [He looks up, backs away from her slightly. She's going to be angry at him for (what looks like) lying to her.] I swear I can do it! It's just not working right now!