paixaorpg | Hi, Shorty. [Active/Open]

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Hi, Shorty. [Active/Open]

Character(s): Edward Elric and anyone who wants to ~~troll~~ meet him.
Content: Ed arrives in Paixao
Setting: Muspelheim and the surrounding area.
Time: Afternoon.
Warnings: Ed's not very happy...

Edward Elric picked himself up off the ground and rubbed his head. Was he really so dumbfounded when he saw his father that he passed out? He frowned, but his frown turned to a look of pure confusion as he noticed that he was no longer standing in the cemetery at Resembool. In front of him was a large dome, large enough to cover an entire city, and a large one at that! Despite being confused, a little freaked out, and more than a little irritated, Ed walked forward and joined a decently long line at a gate the led to the inside of the dome.

The first thing Ed noticed was that everyone looked the same. It wasn’t like looking at a group of Ishvarians and noticing that they all had white hair and red eyes. No, everyone here seemed to be clones of each other! He fidgeted a bit, not very comfortable at being the odd one out (or with being the shortest on in the line.) However, it didn’t take long before he reached the end of the line.

“Hey, where am-“ Ed was cut off by a smartly dressed man who still looked like everyone else because of his blond hair and blue eyes.

“Welcome to Paixao.” He shoved pamphlets and the communication devise into Ed’s hands and pushed him into the city before he had time to register what just happened.

“Paixao?” Ed looked around, admiring the architecture of the dome before his irritation got the best of him. “WHAT THE HELL?!?!?!?!?!?”

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“You need not shout, Monsieur.” A soft but heavily accented voice said from behind the alchemist. “Should you be in need of assistance you need only ask.” With such poor manners the boy was sure to detour help rather than attract it. His shouting appeared to have already caused the citizens in the area to give him a wide berth. Had Lumiere not acknowledged the boy, the citizen holding him surely would have walked past Edward as well. But, unlike the others, the said candelabra was unaffected by the alchemists temper. Compared to the Beast’s the boy’s outburst was a mere sneeze.

“Have found yourself lost, jeune garçon?” Lumiere asked calmly, years of well practiced patience and a well developed tolerance showing through. The citizen who held him, however, displayed quite the opposite. He shuffled back, unlike the candlestick appearing rather nervous. If anything, he wished nothing more than to return to his daily routine. He had agreed to carry the candelabra to its desired location having thought it would be only a short detour. To think if something were to become of this meeting... If yet another rash visitor to the city were to somehow inflict harm upon him... Without a word, the citizen placed Lumiere down and quickly fled the scene.

Turning his attention away from the young alchemist, the candleabera turned to look back in the direction in which the man had ran. “A-ah, merci, Monsieur!” he called after him before looking back up and Edward.

Ed turned around and faced the citizen, wondering why he was holding a lit candelabra in the middle of the day, but not questioning it. He had more important questions.

But then...the voice spoke again, and the man in front of his never moved his lips. It was coming...from the candle?!

Ed's jaw dropped. No. No no no no no no no. Looks like he really did pass out, and this was some sort of very strange bad dream. Though, maybe he should be thankful his dream was like this instead of the usual one he had...

"Looks like it. Mind waking me up? I'm not saying this dream is too bad or anything, but I've got a lot of stuff to take care of."

Lumiere chuckled, choosing to ignore the obvious reasons behind Edward’s words. “I too fear it may be, but you must know, this is no dream, Monsieur. This city is as very much real as you or I. I would pinch you to prove so, however I cannot see that going well.” At this, he raised the two candles which served in place of hands, as though to prove a point. He had no desire to burn this poor boys clothes. Such thing would have just come across as rude. Besides, there was no point in angering him any further.

“I am sorry to hear that this will be of inconvenience to you.” The candleabera continued with sincerity. “But I’m afraid few have yet to succeed in returning home here. Those who have do not seem to recall how they left. Others cannot recall the city at all.” He frowned at this, his eyes wandering to his flames which continued to dance across their wicks. “There is much uncertainty around it. I wish there were more I could tell you but my knowledge of the city is fairly limited.”

Pausing for a moment in thought, he wondered whether or Edward had been listening to him or still struggling over the fact that he was talking. “Monsieur?”

Ed was pinching himself instead. He was talking to a candle, and it was talking back. Why could he feel pain?! This had to be a dream!!

He was still looking down at the damned thing, hearing it talk, but not really comprehending what it said. The only thing Ed understood was that no one knew how to leave the city. And that he was still talking to a talking candle.

"What the hell are you?!"

“I am a Frenchmen.”

If Lumiere had been taken aback by Edwards’s question he had showed no sign of it. His voice was smooth as ever without the slightest hesitation between words. But, regardless of his response, Lumiere had known well enough what the alchemist had truly meant. He had spent years asking himself that very question, all the while trying to convince the rest of the castle staff that they still held their humanity. Yes, he was a candelabra but he was still a Frenchmen; a Frenchmen and a gentleman. Regardless of his appearance, that would never change.

“Ah, but where are my manners? Why, I have yet to introduce myself. My apologies, jeune garcon, I had completely forgotten. I am Lumiere. Je t'en prie!” Offering Edward a warm and welcoming smile, he gave a small bow before him. “That is to say, it is pleasure to meet you, Monsieur.” He added before straightening himself again.

"I can't believe this. First, people tell me we're in a city in a castle, that magic is real, and now I'm talking to a candle." Ed rubbed his forehead. It was hard enough to believe the chimeras and the homunculi when he first saw them, but this? This? Winry must have hit him too hard with her wrench.

He sighed. Well, if he was crazy, he was crazy. It's not like any of the 'people' (if they could really be called people) were talking. He reached down and picked up the candle, still feeling incredibly stupid for conversing with it. "Alright, Lumiere...What did you mean before? That I can't leave?"

The boy wasn’t taking any of this very well now, was he? Although, Lumiere knew he certainly could have reacted a lot worse. It was a lot to take in, especially from him, a talking candelabra, of all people. He waited patiently for Edward to collect himself, listening to him as he rambled on to himself. Only once did he feel the need to interject, correcting the alchemist when he had referred to him as ‘a candle’. “A Frenchmen,” He said calmly.

Lumiere was only slightly surprised to find himself lifted from the ground. Based on Edward’s response toward him, he had thought the boy far too fearful of his form to so much as touch him, none the less pick him up. However, he supposed curiosity had its ways of getting the best of everyone, easily capable of overpowering fear at times. For the most part, he looked unbothered. The alchemist had yet to prove any sort of threat. “Yes, I am afraid it is true. It would appear that there is only one known way to leave and that is to climb to the top of this said castle. I have heard little of those who have succeeded, but there are many who surely have tried. Were it as simple as it sounds, I could not imagine why so many remain here. Something, perhaps even someone, must be preventing it.”

"I've never heard of a 'Frenchman,' so you're a candle." Perhaps this..guy(?) was from a country Ed didn't know about. Unlikely, but then, Ed had never heard of that accent before either, so it was definitely a probability.

Ed carried Lumiere to a bench where he plopped down, still holding his new acquaintance. He quirked an eyebrow at the word, 'castle.' "I don't know where you're from or how you're a talking candle, but this doesn't seem like a castle. This is a city. I don't know why you people keep getting it mixed up." Ed took the journal from his coat pocket and waved it in front of the candle, indicating that he had contacted people through using it.

He finally set Lumiere down and took a moment to really look at the place, not just the dome. The buildings looked normal, but the plants sure didn't. He picked a jeweled flower and looked at it carefully. Were all the plants around here like this?

“Might I suggest simply calling me by name instead?” Just because Lumiere was a candlestick that didn’t mean he enjoyed being referred as one on a regular basis. He was a person, not an object. Well, no, maybe he was an object but he only looked like one. Inside he was still a human being and he still had a name. Besides, he wasn’t just a candle. He was a candelabra and a handsome one at that. To think that he could be reduced to his mere paraffin head was something he dared not think about.

Lumiere remained on the bench where Edward had placed him, watching the boy inspect the flower he plucked for a moment before speaking again. “I am only sharing what I have heard, mon ami.” He said apologetically. “I admit I have yet to see much proof of this castle myself, much less of the city itself, but so far it has proven teeming with surprises. I would not be so quick to judge.” Especially when such words were coming from a talking candelabra. “It’s said each floor of this castle leads to another world. To think how grand this castle must be if such is true… Not to mention wonder where we currently reside. Could we be only in the basement?”

~~The candle~~ Lumiere had a point. Even if a chimera between a human and an inanimate object was impossible (at least it's supposed to be), he still had a name. "Yeah, sorry. This is...a lot to take in."

"Other worlds..." Ed's voice trailed off. Is that how he ended up here? Did this city, or castle, or whatever the hell it was somehow connect itself to his? If that was the case, then why was he the only one to get stuck here? "If this really is a castle, then this is some basement." Ed leaned back and gazed at the crowd of...clones. There really wasn't any better word for them. He kept his gaze out, but spoke again to Lumiere.

"So...where you come from. Is it normal for people to be like..." He glanced down and waved his hand. "Like that?"

Lumiere chuckled, understanding Ed’s frustration well. It really was a lot. Why, even he struggled to grasp much of it. To understand the workings of the city and its secrets would take time to say nothing of the castle itself. As for his appearance, he was more than well aware of how alarming it could be, never mind comprehending. “That is quite alright.” Lumiere assured him. “Take all the time you need.”

He followed the alchemists gaze out to the busy streets and watched the people as they passed. They were all so orderly, so generic, and drab. It was a mystery how Cogsworth had found a reason to dislike them. “Non,” he replied. “Not even Cogsworth could make it so. This ‘world’, sort to speak, is not my own. I too am a visitor and unfamiliar with many of the customs of this city. However, many of it’s people have treated me well. To speak ill of them would feel wrong. I would say they are unusual, but I am far from one to speak. ”

The native people of this city certainly couldn't be blamed for anything, but Ed couldn't help but feel uncomfortable about them. They might look human, but they certainly didn't act that way. The homunculi he had run in to seemed more human.

"Yeah, you are pretty weird." Ed looked down at Lumiere. "You weren't always like that, were you? You said you were a 'Frenchman,' so you were human before?" That was some transmutation there. Ed didn't want to know what went behind turning a human into something like that.

“That is of little importance.” He replied coolly. Though, for the first Lumiere showed sign of discomfort, Edward’s questioning appearing to have set the candelabra at unease. As relaxed as he had sounded, his expression had notably changed to one of alarm before he had the chance to speak. And as natural as a smile had looked on his waxy face, the one that followed seemed particularly forced. “You are in what many call a ‘new world’, Monsieur. Surely you must have greater concerns such as where you will be staying, how you will fare without coin, a question regarding the journal, perhaps?”

Ed definitely noticed the forced expression and the change of subject. He gave Lumiere a suspicious look, but let it go. If he had been turned into something like that, he probably wouldn't want to talk about it either.

"Yeah. What kind of currency do they use here? I've got money in the bank, but it won't be any good if I can't convert it. Every city I've been to has a hotel, so I guess I'll just find one here after I sort out the money." Ed then pulled out the journal. "This thing? I talked to a few people on it already. Is there anything else I should know about it?"

“The locals should accept almost anything should you be persuasive enough to make them believe it is of value. I have heard many have used leaves from the trees themselves to purchase goods. It may appear foolish, naïve of the citizens to accept such payment, but should it be as effective as I have heard I too would not think twice about it.” Lumiere was admittedly less familiar with currency than most. He had not paid for many things since his arrival, what with having no need to eat nor requirement to pay rent. Any matters that had required finances Beast or Cogsworth had taken care of. Still, he had heard enough to know the citizens had been accepting leaves.

“As for the ‘journal’, there is a map of the city available on the device. It will not indicate where you are, though I do not know why it would, but I can tell you that you are presently at ‘Muspelheim’. I do not know of any inns in the area, however, there is a train which passes through the city. It may take you to where you might find one. If I am correct, a station should be near.”

"Leaves?" Ed plucked one from a bush. It definitely wasn't organic material, but why a place would use something so plentiful as currency, Ed couldn't guess. Lumiere didn't seem like he was trying to trick him though, so Ed put the leaf in his wallet. If it couldn't be used as currency, he might be able to transmute it into something useful later.

At the mention of the journal, Ed pressed a few buttons and found the map with no trouble. "This thing is pretty impressive." A communication devise and a map? He found what he assumed to be his general location around the Muspelheim gate, and saw that there really was a station near by.

He then looked down at Lumiere. "Hey, thanks. I'm gonna go have a look around. Uhm...are you ok by yourself?" Ed couldn't see how this poor guy could move on his own. In exchange for the help, Ed could at least take him somewhere he would rather be.

The journal technology was still very new to Lumiere. He had never seen, never mind used, something so advanced. Why, the most advance piece of technology they had in the castle was Cogsworth. The candelabra knew only the basics, having yet to figure out how to use the device to its full potential. “Impressive.” He repeated with a laugh. “Même pas! That does not give it true justice. It is remarkable!” Were it not for the journals, Lumiere was sure he would melt from boredom in Beast’s apartment. To be confined to such a small space in comparison to the castle definitely proved its cons.

“I would not object to an ‘escort’ of sorts, should you be offering.” He told Edward. “In fact, I would be most grateful and make it up to you however possible.”

Ed shrugged. "It's not like I have anything better to do. Besides, it'll help me learn the layout of the city." Maps were nice, but it was always best to learn your way around first hand. "You don't have to worry about that," Ed responded to Lumiere's wish of paying him back. "It's not like you're very big or heavy."

He picked up the candle-man. "Alright, where am I going?"

“I will need to return to Iriela Apartments, located at the far West side of the city.” He replied. “However, you needn’t carry me there. As long as I have access to the train, I should have little trouble finding someone headed in the same direction as myself.” Lumiere was confident he could easily convince one of the passengers to carry him so that Edward could explore the city freely. He felt no need to make the boy obligated to escort him around, especially when he had proven to be quite kind once he had calmed down.

“Merci beaucoup, monsieur. I will not forget the kindness you have shown. And, somehow, I will repay you.” Regardless if Edward wanted him to or not, Lumiere would continue to consider himself in the alchemists debt. "Monsieur, might I ask your name?"

"Really, it's no problem." He checked the map one last time and headed towards the train station. Thankfully, it wasn't too far.

"You can call me Ed." Normally, he would be gloating about his fame as the youngest State Alchemist ever, but he didn't even know if Lumiere knew that alchemy existed, let alone know who he was. This place seemed fishy anyway, so maybe it was a better idea to lay low a bit.

It didn't take long for Ed to reach the train station. He looked around, looking for a good spot to place Lumiere so he wouldn't get tramples by anyone (and thus accidentally set someone on fire). He found another bench. "How's this?"

“This will do well.” Lumiere assured the alchemist, having noted his efforts to avoid placing him on the ground. He would not have objected but was undoubtedly thankful for the spot Edward had chosen on a vacant bench. There was much traffic around the station, citizens rushing to catch the soon departing train. Lumiere was not particularly fond of the idea of being trampled or setting anyone accidentally on fire either. He looked up at the boy and smiled.

“My many thanks, Monsieur. I hope you do well from this point on. Should you have any further questions many, as well as myself, may hopefully be of help over the journals.”

"No problem." Ed turned to leave the way he came, waving as he walked away. "I guess I'll be seein' you around."

He left the station and found a spot to stand where he wouldn't be bombarded by citizens rushing to and fro, wondering which way he should go first. In the end, he decided to head back to the entrance gate. Since that was were so many people were entering (and not leaving), perhaps something interesting could be found there...

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Hi, Shorty. [Active/Open]

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