The Challenger Institute of Research
cordially invites you to the

TO THE INNAUGURAL FUNDRAISER EVENT

Saturday, 21st of October 1917

Door opens at 6:00 PM.
Drinks and food provided

Dress code: Semi-formal

The owner of the gold eyes perusing over the thick square of paper frowned. When Alphonse was invited, he was not particularly surprised. His seventeen year old brother has been attending the University of Amestris only for six months, but his popularity soared amongst older academics and researchers after they've realized just how much potential he has. By studying medicine and using his vast knowledge of alchemy and alkahestry, Alphonse was steadily but certainly stepping out of the shadow as the brother of the Fullmetal Alchemist and that of the boy whose soul was trapped in a metal suit, instead making a name for himself.

Edward couldn't be prouder of him especially whenever Alphonse received invites such as the one he was holding: academics and researchers have been practically begging for his presence ever since it became obvious that Alphonse's return to Amestris is an indefinite one and not just a holiday from his exotic travels.

It wasn't as if Ed wasn't acknowledged for his alchemical knowledge: following the Promised Day, letters of gratitude, invites to political events and all kinds of institutes asking him to join their alumni groups came pouring in. It had been easy to ignore most of them while travelling out West and the only reason he'd known about them is because Winry often complained about sheer amount of letters she had to navigate through. The volume of letters diminished over the years for various reasons: some institutes were put off by his lack of alchemical abilities, others stopped pestering him after he told me he's not interested. Everyone came to know him as the genius whom retired in the peaceful village of Resembool and as far as anyone was aware, he was happy and okay with keeping things that way.

He had been, at least for a while.

When he moved in with his brother six months earlier, he had managed to keep a low profile. He had been working as a researcher for the University, but he is familiar with the Challenger Institute. Founded by Nicholas Challenger, a well-travelled man of many abilities: with multiple degrees in Archaeology, History and Science, the man appeared seemingly out of nowhere a year after the Promised Day and infiltrated the world of academia and research with great ease. Ed has cynically attributed his influence to the endless wealth he seemed to possess so he didn't particularly felt interested in the man but his brother was a fan.

Alphonse received a full scholarship from Challenger Institute whom was this generous to anybody whom showed great potential. So, an invite to a fundraiser organized by the man of the hour was no surprise when it arrived addressed to Alphonse Elric.
What was surprising was the second invite, addressed to Ed instead which is what he had been staring at for the past ten minutes. He considered ripping it apart and throwing it away before Alphonse could see it, knowing full well his brother would employ all necessary means to get him to go.

But he didn't. He was completely against attending such events where he would be forced to make small talks with snob and shallow individuals but his gut instinct told him ignoring the invite was not a good idea.

Click!

"Brother, I am back!'' Ed heard the door shut close and the sound of a bag being dropped on the ground. A few moments later, his brother, flesh and bone stepped into the threshold of the living room where Ed had been sorting out through the letters. He didn't have anything planned for the day so he had taken to occupy his time with that while enjoying his coffee.
Edward grinned stupidly. He could never get sick of seeing Alphonse in his real body no matter how much time has passed. Especially when said brother was carrying a bag whose heavy scent quickly filled the room and informed the older brother that Al had decided to stop to the bagel shop on the way back home.

"Lessons got cancelled today. I was going to go to the library but I forgot my notes. I brought breakfast.'' Al felt the last part was redundant, judging by the childish gleaming look in his brother's eyes. He smiled and chucked the bag at the other man's face who caught it easily. He fumbled a bit with it, when he realized that the bagels instead were still quite very hot.

Hazel eyes moved to the familiar invite his brother had thrown onto the table. In quick two strides, he moved over to the table and picked it up.
"Brother, you got one as well? I didn't know you were interested.'' He was mostly teasing; just yesterday, when Al had expressed interest in Challenger's Institute, his brother had rolled his eyes and said the only reason Al showed interest was because of his 'crush' on a fellow genius medical student.

"They're interested in me.'' Ed said around a mouthful of bagel.

"Well, you do realize that you have nothing to wear right?''
"Who says I am going? And anyway, it is semi-formal.''
Alphonse rolled his eyes. His brother was going, otherwise the invite would already be confetti. He's seen similar invites suffer that fate.

"You don't have anything that's semi-formal. We need to go shopping.''
"Wut?''
"It's rude to speak with your mouth full.''