Streets at twilight

[Russell Tringham]

No wasn't a good answer. Russell only new Adi for a short while, but he knew that that answer was not in her vocabulary. It wasn't in his vocabulary either, which gave him all the more reason to be worried. He, also, only suffered from a bullet wound to his shoulder. She had suffered from breaking bones. He even thought his wound wound was better than Fletcher's and his was only minor scratches.


"I'll get you out of here," the blond boy said. He now didn't worry about the man trapped on the ground at all. If he burned he deserved it. There was no reason for Adi to be in this much pain. He was thinking enough to know that they couldn't go through the front door. One was in the burning bakery and the other was right outside those doors. Unless, this was just a trap... He shook his head. Either way there was a chance he was going to fight the second one.

Carrying Adi was going to hurt her. Russell had no other choice. He ripped his sleeve off at the elbow. With a quick flick it unraveled and he handed it to her. It would be better if it was wet, but water was something they didn't have. After he had Adi safe, he was going to have to find out how to put out the fires and repair the bakery. This was now the second place that Adi lived that was being destroyed. After the bakery was in good enough shape. He was going to kill those that did this.

He didn't dare say this. Adi wouldn't like that hearing it whether she was dying or not. "Hold your breath. And when you can... Take my hand." He was going to lift her up, and he knew that it was going to hurt. The only thing he could do to have her not hurt herself was to squeeze his own when she could.

He was now drenched in sweat and covered in ash. The fire reflected off of his gleaming skin. His eyes turned to the very flames around them with his determination. The burn in his lungs he tried to ignore. Right now he didn't want Adi to be worried about his safety.

[Kinne]

Adi did as he said and tried to uncurl her self so that she could his hand. it took a minuet and she was almost unable to do it. she gasped in pain as her ribs cracked. When she wasn't in a ball anymore she reached up for his hand.

A whimper escaped her. She owed Russell so much for this. "I'm sorry." She whispered for right now that would be enough.

[Russell Tringham]

Just moving was hard for her. He was going to cause her unimaginable pain. That he knew. But he had no other choice. This was going to be, by far, the fastest way to get her out. Right now speed was crucial especially if he wanted to try and save the bakery. If only had...


No! He wasn't going to think about that! Especially not now! Already it was hard to breath he didn't need to make it harder for himself! He can manage with the tools he had. There was no need to think about the stone which he nearly killed an entire city over years before. And besides, it was only a fake toy. Eventually it would backfire. He was strong to get to Magwar, he was going to be strong afterward!

Despite the raging of his thoughts he tried to keep a calm look about him. The blond farm boy squeezed Adi's hand before letting go so he could get an arm underneath her legs. Then he carefully retook her hand. Just sitting still her ribs were cracking. He was going to send so much pain through her...

Instead of becoming weak from these thoughts he became even more dedicated. Those two caused Adi so much pain for what probably was her offering help. Her helpful nature which should be treasured has now got her in two life threatening incidents.

"We will count to three, ok?" Russell said as he positioned himself so he could cause all the pain at once. "One... Two... Three..." They counted together. Russell then quickly put his hand behind her back and lifted her up as quickly as he could.

Now they had to get out. Now.

[Kinne]

She counted along with him. At three she closed her eyes. The pain was excruciating but she bit her lip and kept from screaming. Her breathing was very shallow, partially from the smoke and partially form her cracked ribs. Guilt overcame her as she looked around at the burning building. It was all her fault. They were going to lose their business and home all because of her. She caused every one nothing but trouble.

[Russell Tringham]

There wasn't much thinking now. He cast a look back at the front door. It wasn't worth the chance. But it was the easy way so he wanted to try. Russell now was going to act on impulse, act on instinct. He turned back toward the kitchen and started running. Out of the fire then fix the fire. That was his goals. Keeping Adi safe was just too obvious to think about.

But even the fire wasn't really worrying him much right now. For some reason he was finding that as easy work. He never tried to raise a building before but if the wind didn't take too much of the ash he should be able to combine everything again. There was only a few things that actually change when fire takes hold. Plants however... that's a different story.

The fire didn't cause him much fear. Perhaps the adrenaline coursing through his veins was making him dumb. But the flames only licked his pants as he pushed his way through to the kitchen. The smell of gas was being burned away but it was enough to know that soon the kitchen was going to become an explosive. That was going to make him rush more. However, he couldn't find the back door in all of the smoke.

It had to be somewhere. He coughed a few times but didn't take notice of it. He deserved any that came to him. He deserved the pain of any cough that he couldn't control. But he was looking for a door, not justification. There!

Through the smoke he caught the outline of the door and charged for it. he carefully launched a kick at the door and broke through. Even if it wasn't a door he probably could kick through the wall now, but it was a door. Fresh air!

Fresh air hurt more then the smoke! He coughed more but ran across the street. "Stay here," he said not explaining his actions. He carefully passed her on to the bystanders that were trying to organize a way to put out the fire.

[Russell Tringham]

The fire had to be put out. He turned back to the burning bakery. What could he do? He didn't know how to create water out of air. Even if he could he couldn't make enough, especially with the air deprived of moisture. But watching it burn wasn't an option. He had to find a way to put out the fire somehow. Even if it wasn't water.

He coughed a few more times as he took steps forward. It was impossible to sufficate the fire. Not one this size and in the open as it was. There was no way he could deprive the flames of oxygen, and the fuel was impossible also. It wouldn't be wise to destroy the roads to create enough dust to smoother it...

Maybe he couldn't save the bakery... He didn't want to accept that...

He scanned the crowd as the men were thinking just as he was. Then, he spotted something. Why didn't he think of it before? There was water all around them! Though, perhaps not clean water. And he knew just how to use it.

Russell then came up closer to the building. The heat radiated from the building baking everything it could. Soon, the buildings beside it were going to catch fire. That was also something he was going to have to prevent. Wielding the chalk in his hand once again he knelt to the ground and drew a transmutation circle. Once he activated it a stone hose came from the ground. With a turn of the lever water came rushing out and onto the bakery. It was water straight from the sewers.

[/blockquote]

[Daniel Winsett]

Daniel had been in Central for a short time now. He'd taken his time getting to know the city, not picking anyplace particular to stay. It was an interesting location, and so much stone he could work with...

He was out tonight, walking the streets. Despite not having a home, there was little dirt to speak of on his clothes. His ability helped with that. He stretched his hands over his head and said to himself in a bored way, "Ohhh... I've got to find something to do."

After his next step he heard a "Plip". He looked down and saw that he'd stepped in a pool of water. No, it was more of a stream really He looked up the way and saw a bright glow emanating from around the corner. Moving out of the stream, he set off to see what all the light was about. After a moment he heard a roaring crackle, and smelled the smoke choked air. A house was burning.

He felt anger burn at the thought of destruction like this, "Honestly! Why would you go and ruin a perfectly good building!" Memories seemed to stir in him. Some he could place, others seemed like they were from a dream. Seeing his home torched as a child... He empathized with whoever owned the place.

He found the source of the water, and looked at the man who seemed to be using it. An alchemist? As far as I know, water pumps aren't normally in the middle of the streets.

Daniel was immediately put on guard by the alchemist. Alchemists had caused the worst years of his life, but his father had also been an alchemist, and Daniel had respected him greatly. In the end, it came down to this. He just plain didn't like fires burning houses.

He ran towards the blond haired alchemist. "Hey, Alchemist! Give me that hose and go make another one!"

[Kinne]

Adi was passed to another person and it hurt almost as much as being picked up she gasped and closed her eyes. It hurt so much!

when her eyes opened she watched with anxiety as Russell tried to fix the burning. She wanted to help but there was nothing she could do. Besides Russell seemed to have it under control. She was awestruck, how in the world had he thought to use the sewers to put out the fire?

It was then that another person came running up. It was the first person actually starting to do something to help and not just standing around mumbling.

[Russell Tringham]

Someone came from the crowd. He had half a mind to just turn him away without a second thought till he really thought about what he said. He wasn't trying to stop him. He wasn't trying to say the building was lost it wasn't worth the effort. He was trying to help! Russell looked to the man for a moment before nodding with a smile before coughing.

"Thanks." he said as well as he could. The farm boy was use to the strain. Being Edward Elric in Xenotime he often helped with fires. But the people offered more help then these bystanders. Also, he usually didn't have to fight the culprits inside. Not to mention, he usually better protected himself against the smoke.

He then ran to another position and carefully drew another circle. Now that the ground was damp it was much harder for the chalk to stick to the brick but he managed. The transmutation circle was activated then he had another pipe up. He had another coughing fit as he turned on the water.

The fire on the bakery had taken it's toll. There was little form left on the building, only blazing flames. The brothers inside he could guess were now burnt to a crisp. He shook his head quickly. There was no reason to be thinking of them. He didn't want to save them, and now it was impossible.

The sewage water seemed to be doing the trick. Slowly, the flames were dying down in the two floor building.

[/blockquote]

[Daniel Winsett]

Daniel took the water hose, and began shooting like mad at the flames raging against the building. A moment later, a second stream of water joined the first in it's assault. They seemed to be making progress. The fire was diminishing. This only revealed fully the destruction that had been wrought there.

As he continued spraying down the building, a problem began making itself known. ...Why is the water stopping?... Gah! The alchemist must be what sustains the flow.

As the spray began to lessen he directed it to nearer, and nearer targets, until most of the fire was out. The crowd seemed to be just hovering around. Perhaps a few had gone for help; perhaps some called the fire station. By and large though, they were just standing there. The homunculus scanned the local group around him, scorn in his heart. Apathy. How I hate it. Lack of concern for whoever has lost this building... Except for that man.

He looked to the alchemist. Quite a talented man, apparently. Maybe this is who I heard about on the way here. His mind wandered back to the soldiers' conversation on the train. A rumor that some famous alchemist was back in the area. Was this the Fullmetal?

The Homunculous sauntered smoothly towards the other man, his voice a reflection of his stride.

"Well... It's lucky you were here, Mister Alchemist. I hate fires. I'm glad this one is out.... I hope no one was inside." His calmness as he looked off at the burned shell, was perhaps a side effect of the dream like memories calming him, mixed with a cold anger of frustration directed at those who had done nothing. Why did things like this happen. It was all unfair.



OoC: For future reference. I will edit if requested. I can be flexible. I'm just trying to build on the cues in your writing.

[Russell Tringham]

It was far too late. The fire had stripped the bakery of all color but black. The skin was ash or completely gone leaving only the skeleton of the building. With one good gust, the whole place would fall down. One good gust and the building can never return just as it was.

This was more difficult then his last adventure with Adi. Last time he had much more help and had to bring down one man. This time, he was on his own, had to worry about two men and the fire that they started. He wished he could find out why from them. But now he never would. He was sure that the culprits remained in the fire and were now dead. It almost worried him that he was thinking that this was a good thing.

Russell wiped the sweat from his brow and coughed more. Was this how it felt to have the red water in the system? The small chuckle made him cough more. Doubt it he thought. The red water had to have been much worse.

It took him a moment to realize that the person speaking was speaking to him. It was the one that helped him. "You have no idea," he said. It was more than just a fire he had to deal with. "And there was. The two that started this mess."

[/blockquote]

ooc:// Alright. I will keep that in mind.

[Daniel Winsett]

Wrath stood, working his mouth a bit as bits of the ruined structure continued to collapse. The whole place smelled of smoke. What were those memories thatkept dancing just out of reach?

The Homunculus watched as the alchemist coughed. "Well, I suppose help is on the way, now, You sound like you've had a rough evenin', Kid. Is there anything you need some help with?" This guy had earned the goodwill of Daniel, as fickle as that was, by stopping the fire. For now, he was feeling sociable and possibly even a bit helpful.

"If not, maybe you could direct me to a place in the city that I could stay. I just got here, and don't truly know my way around yet"

Mistake! Agh! Who in their right mind would be walking the city at night when they didn't even have a place to stay.

Of course it wasn't true that Wrath didn't know his way around, he just hadn't actively looked into finding a hotel or the like. He had a bit of money still from before he moved from the west. Also he'd just arrived...about four days ago.

[Ermine]

The streets were quiet. After a few weeks of traveling, her goal to find the armed girl had taken her to Central, and Lust was amazed by the large buildings and boutiques. She would have to come back and buy some gaudy, flashy material goods.

"Too cold..." the average sized woman shivered as she walked through the dreary streets. Lust had always hated the cold, as she had been 'born' in a relatively warm place. Her teeth clacked together as she rubbed her hands in a desperate attempt to raise her body temperature. She was dressed in a simple navy turtle neck/khaki jean ensemble to cover up her homunculus garb.

It wasn't even that cold outside; although it didn't take much to make the young woman chilly. As she rounded the corner, the smell of smoke in the clouded the alley. Curious, she ventured further, following the aroma of burnt wood. "Fire." she said to herself. Ermine smiled and continued to walk through the maze of streets.

She rounded the next corner as the silhouettes of at least four people met her eyes. She gasped quietly, and flattened herself against the side of the closest wall, remembering the last time she came upon a burned down building. Yeah, it hadn't been the best experience. The homunculus had learned many things from it. Lust slightly leaned forward, wanting to watch and listen the events unfolding.

[Kinne]

Adi was now sitting on the ground watching tearfully as the bakery burned. She was still there when Russell found a solution and when the new man came to help. There was nothing to be done though the Backwaren's home and business were burnt to a crisp and it was all her fault. Breathing still hurt her terribly.

Not long after the fire finally ceased a voice rang out from the crowd. "What happened?!" the voice belonged to a young man as he forced himself through the crowd. "What happened to the bakery!" He looked like he was in complete shock.

[Russell Tringham]

The bakery was done for. He watched the building he didn't even know fall to the ground. However, he didn't look sad or depressed. Instead he had a determined look on his face. He took a slow deep breath in, but during the exhale he started coughing again. Black mucus came up. For a moment he looked at his hand but quickly turned back to the ash.

"Only I can do this," he said with a small smile. Perhaps this was finally him repaying for what he had done to Xenotime years ago. But this was nowhere close enough. "Maybe afterward I can help you with your problem."

The blond alchemist started walking toward the bakery. Despite the sewage water smoke and steam was still rising off the skeleton of the bakery. He had never done something this grand before. Usually he only fixed small problems, broken axe heads, chipped knives, cracked vases. Occasionally he fixed fallen mining shafts. But this was something much bigger. It was a home filled with memories. It was a lifestyle for the family that lived in it. And two thugs thought they could just destroy that.

He heard the voice call out from the crowd. It wasn't hard to tell that they were part of Adi's new family. They were the ones that put all their effort into making this business, this home. "I'll bring it back," he called out.

[/blockquote]