⁰⁴ video (𝗎𝗇: 𝗌𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗇𝖽)

[alkahestic]

[ al's currently on floor 6, like... literally the floor, which has books and papers shoved aside so that there's a clear space. at first, the feed is a little shaky as he adjusts it, and then it's visible that he's got a rather large pile of dirt sitting in front of him. giving the feed a shy grin, he claps his gloved hands together and transmutes the material. there's a blinding flash of blue and yellow lightning and a whirl of dust. when it all fades, there's a pot with flowers sitting in the spot where the pile of dirt had been.

pleased with himself, al grins at the camera. ]

What with all the snow and everything, I thought people might be getting a little tired of the cold weather, so if people want some fresh plants to liven up their homes or rooms, I'd like to help.

[ he lifts up the pot and brings the flowers into focus. ]

I can make all types of things, if people want. My brother and I are still running a repair business for just about anything you can imagine, so please let me know!

[ setting the pot down again, he settles cross legged on the floor. ]

I was also thinking of all the different abilities people have here. For example, I'm an alchemist and you all just saw what I can do. But what can other people do? I mean, if it's not too much to ask, I'd like to ask a few questions.

Comments

in person

[hititwithacrowbar]

[ Jason was leaning in the doorway once Al finished recording. He had a blue hat on backwards and dressed in one of his stained shirts that he wore when he cleaned up. Which is what today had been, a cleaning day.]

Well, that's a clever way to get rid of the dust.

[alkahestic]

[ laughing a little subconsciously, al dusted his hands off and then held them out to show the stitching on his gloved palms. ]

You should see what Brother can do when he gets caked in mud. Clap of his hands and he's clean like new. I've seen him do it before. Anyway, I thought it'd be a good way to start the new year.

[hititwithacrowbar]

[ Jason laughed at the image of that as he remained against the door frame.]

That sounds like it would be one hell of a sight, and useful.

[ Finally he pushed off, the wall, tugging the hat off to run his hand through his hair to collect more to shove under the hat as he pulled it back on backwards. His hair was getting shaggy.]

That's what Alfred always did, start the new year with money and a clean home and the new year will be good, and it's exactly what I'm doing to.

[alkahestic]

[ noting the long hair, al grins again, setting the pot aside as he stands. ]

You should get a haircut too. If you're not careful, it'll get as long as Brother's.

[ which was longer still than al's and al's was pretty long already. ]

Brother and I never really celebrated holidays like they do here. Mostly we were traveling or busy with research. But... it's kind of nice to just make a note of it.

video; (un: d.pavus)

[tevinteraltus]

[Color Dorian impressed. He's seen people do a lot of things with magic: time travel for instance (he might have had a hand in that), but this? Something from...well, something nearly completely different? That one's new. While he's very confident in his own abilities, the Altus Mage isn't above praising someone else, and he's painfully curious.]

Is the ability to create a potted plant from a pile of soil common in your world or are you something of a pioneer?

[He'll get to what he can do in just a moment.]

I, by the way, am Dorian Pavus. I work as a magic researcher.

video; un: soulbound

[alkahestic]

[ a stranger! and a handsome one at that. al looks up from what he's accomplished with a slight smile on his lips and pushes the pot out of his way before grabbing a lose sheet of paper that had been nearby. ]

Eh-heh, actually, I can do a lot more. This is alchemy and I can use it to alter material on a molecular level.

[ to demonstrate, he claps his hands again and presses his fingertips to the paper. another flash of light later and the paper has been formed into the shape of a crane. ]

These are easy transmutations. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Pavus. I'm Alphonse Elric.

video; un: d.pavus

[tevinteraltus]

"Alchemy". [To Dorian's knowledge, that was nothing but an herbal thing, used by medics to ease the pain of wounds and stave off infection. Something about internal chemistry and the balancing of humors. He'd never known a healer to make a plant out of a pile of sand, or a folded crane from a sheet of parchment. This is all rather fascinating.]

It's a pleasure, though Dorian will suffice. There no call for formality. [And he waves a hand because really, there is something way more important than names going on here.]

Now this Alchemy, you say these are simple. What, then, would constitute a "moderate" or "difficult" transmutation?

[alkahestic]

Okay, Dorian.

[ a bright smile. alphonse tends towards being polite, unlike his brother, so he might slip up and say "Mr. Pavus" again, but he'll try to remember. ]

It's a pretty simple one. Basic, I guess. It's definitely not a difficult transmutation, though I've been able to do difficult ones. Like transmuting larger objects or even complex materials. My brother is the true genius at alchemy, though. He's done some amazing things with it. He once rebuilt an entire inn with all its furniture and stuff by transmuting the material from the torn down inn. That would be a difficult transmutation.

[ like binding al's soul to a suit of armor when he lost his body and almost died. but al isn't going to get into that. ]

text | un: RE-L124C41+

[realimperfect]

I'm more used to the cold than I should probably admit, but.. some flowers would be nice.

Having real ones instead of holograms is new for me, so having different kinds in my apartment has become a bit of a... hobby.

text; un: soulbound

[alkahestic]

I can definitely make you a couple potted plants, if you want!

[realimperfect]

Sure. Surprise me with the varieties, even. There are so many i would be surprised if there was a repeat in there.

Oh - though.. are any cat friendly? I unfortunately have one that likes to explore most things via chewing on them.

[alkahestic]

I can definitely do that! And they should be.
I have several kittens myself and I wouldn't want them to get hurt.

=^.^=

[haruna_of_fog]

Action/Audio

The sight of something changing like that was familiar with Haruna although the flash was very much out of the ordinary, reshaping, and repurposing nanomaterial looked nothing like that. The swirling effects true but if this boy(?) were a mental model, Haruna would have at least been able to try and raise him on quantum communications.

"Bathroom." she said plainly, as she moved into the bathroom, closing the doorway behind her.

She began to try and connect to the Joint Tactical Network or at least broadcast a quantum 'ping'. A glowing wavy yellow line formed near the under of her eyes and followed the contours of her face as she felt around only to find silence once more. False hope, an annoying emotion that she was getting too familiar with. The lines faded as soon as they appeared leaving no trace of its existence. Still best to keep up the charade. A meaningless toilet flush and a washing of her hands later Haruna left the bathroom and returned to the communal room.

Still that offer did stand and Haruna was very interested in what exactly this 'alchemy' was as a plan formed in her mind.
"I will be back soon." Haruna said to her roommates before entering the hallway closing the door behind her. No one was around and then Haruna cued the microphone of her communicator.

------

An icon appeared on screen, a yellow downwards pointing triangle with it's top corners flanging out, a trio of smaller triangles radiating and then a smaller pair of triangles near the bottom point. There was no name or number to call back listed but still there was a woman's voice still came from it.

"I am very curious about what you did with Alchemy. While I have no interest in acquiring a plant, I desire to share information about our abilities. But I'd rather do it in person than over the video system of this communication network. There may be too many watching eyes and it lacks the direct feedback and has an inherent delay."

The image stayed on screen as if waiting for an answer from the Alchemist.

[alkahestic]

[ the stranger, a woman, seems to have the same kind of paranoia that his brother has in regards to things like powers and abilities. for a few seconds, alphonse stares at the screen, curious about the icon, especially since it looks like the beginnings of a very complicated transmutation circle. still, he's not the type to pry too much, even if his curiosity is piqued, so he merely makes a mental note of it and responds to the core of the message. ]

I don't mind meeting! I'm on floor six, if you want to come over. Most of my supplies and research is here, so it might be easier if you stop by.

[haruna_of_fog]

The sixth floor. Interesting to know one with this ability was so close to her.

Haruna triggered the mic again and the image flashed on again. "I will be there in a moment." She said before cutting the com circuit the icon vanishing.

The Battleships quickly went up the steps from the fifth to the sixth floor before she looked to the door to the communal room. Her coat covered hand knocked on the door, "Hello. I am here for the demonstration of our capabilities."

Whoever answered would find that Haruna standing tall, collar covering her mouth as the woman took on an almost statuesque appearance. According to what she determined, making first impressions was very important. And as a battleship, it was only natural for her to present a look of strength.

video | un: tieria.erde

[vedaandme]

[Okay, so that's a new one. Tieria watched the video in fascination before finally hitting the reply button.]

How did you do that?

[alkahestic]

It's Alchemy. Transmutation of matter on a molecular level. I merely changed the molecules of the dirt, using the carbon and other elements in it, to create the pot and flowers.

[ he says with a shy grin, setting the pot aside as he speaks. ]

[vedaandme]

But... you did so without any particular process. You merely... placed your hands down... and it was done. That is highly improbable. Alchemy of any kind usually involves some sort of process, such as heating an ingredient or dissolving it in a solution.

[In other words, THAT WAS TOO FAST, AL.]

[alkahestic]

[ sorry, tieria. he's used to doing alchemy so quickly and naturally. he holds out his hands for the feed, showing off the circles stitched into the gloves on his palms. ]

The transmutation circle allows me to access energy and convert it as needed for the transmutation. It's not improbable, but not always easy for someone to do.

Text; un bat.enthusiast

[super_sane]

[Interesting ability there, Al. Color Ash intrigued.]

I have no abilities to speak of; certainly nothing spectacular. I did want to go about restoring this old amusement park I happened to notice in the Abandoned City.

[alkahestic]

Hm... I think Brother and I could help with that. It'll take a bit of time because we'd have to do it in stages, but we can definite fix things like that. Brother once rebuilt an entire inn with alchemy, so it shouldn't be a problem.

[ and because he's curious... it seems a bit strange to want something outside of quarantine fixed when no one would go to it. at least, that's how it seems in al's mind. ]

Are you sure though? It can be dangerous outside of quarantine and I don't know how many people would go if it's in the abandoned city...

@ciscodelamancha | text

[franciscoramon]

[ Al would be dealing with a barrage of questions right now, if it weren't for the fact that Cisco knows Ed a little, has already harassed him about the basics of alchemy. So instead he just responds: ]

bespoke houseplants
i completely dig it

[ Does that even count as a pun? If it does, it's so bad that it's not even worth mentioning. ]

think you could whip me up some cute succulents?
maybe a dozen?
is there a price per plant?

[ Cisco really likes having cute little houseplants to take care of, is there anything so wrong with that? ]

as far as powers are concerned i can help a little
i know all about how people's abilities worked in my world.
i worked with folks with superpowers all the time.

[ Also, Cisco has powers, himself, but he's not really going to just put that out there on the network thanks very much. ]

[alkahestic]

no price! it's just something i'm doing to pass the time
i'm not sure what succulents are, but if you have a picture
i could probably still make them =^.^=

superpowers? like superheroes?

[ al's read a few comic books in his down time. color him interested. ]

what's it like working with those kinds of people?

[franciscoramon]

they're little plants that grow in the desert
i'll send some pictures

[ And Cisco texts Al way too many pictures of tiny, cute succulents because he keeps finding more of them and they are all adorable. ]

yep, like superheroes.
we haven't got alchemy in my world but there's plenty of superheroes.
it was awesome, and scary, and totally frustrating, with some more awesome on top.
awesome because they're out there saving people's lives and making the world a better place
scary because sometimes it means the bad guys come after you
frustrating because they tend to get all noble and self-sacrificey and bad at listening to advice
and awesome because superheroes are just inherently cool.

[alkahestic]

oh! I like those!
I definitely think I can make some.

[ they're so cute, he might make some for himself and ed. ]

I think I can understand that.
We don't have super heroes in our world
but sometimes people think alchemists are.
We're supposed to help people, so Brother and I are sometimes called heroes.
It's just the principal of alchemy though: "Be thou for the people."