A Pen or a Sword?

By: Bar-Ohki

Disclaimer: Still don't own it.

Recap: Edward finds himself driving Jaxith and Michel around.

Other Stuff: When I started this story I was thinking it was going to be about 20 chapters…. Man was I wrong. It's going to be about 40 at this rate.

Previously:

"Umm…" Michel didn't know what to say.

"They're always like that, you get used to it." Breda assured the boy with a slap on his back.

Chapter 28: Eating Out

"Aren't we supposed to give a little speech on them?" Michel asked, hitting the return key to make the typewriter go 'ka-ching'. Jaxith didn't look up from his great-uncle's typewriter, appearing to be completely engrossed in this work. Said great-uncle looked up from his new place on the floor, blinking once. He picked up a sheet from his nearby desk and read it.

"According to your assignment description, that is correct." Roy answered, setting the paper back atop the desk before Jaxith noticed it was missing.

"When'd you wind up on the floor?" Michel asked, having just been extremely focused himself.

"About an hour ago." Roy answered after checking his watch with a glance. He didn't seem to mind being on the floor much at all. He went back to the almost gone pile of paperwork, humming contently.

"You know, I kind of miss all the overtime." Havoc explained to Breda, both of whom were done with their work. "I had more money then."

"But no time to do anything with it." Breda remarked. "Alas, there is no such thing as a perfect world."

"…Do I want to know?" Michel asked as he organized his papers. The door to the office opened and Edward and Alphonse came in.

"Hey Colonel Shit." Edward addressed his commanding officer.

"Ah, Fullmetal, thank you for reminding me. Mike, this little brat-" Roy pointed at Edward.

"Who you calling so tiny you can't see him from the floor!?" Edward lunged, finding himself being quickly restrained by his brother.

"Brother! No one said any such thing!" Alphonse tried to voice reason to his irate brother.

"-has a filthy mouth and doesn't respect authority." Roy finished.

"…I'm not going to rewrite this to include that information." Michel left it at that.

"Done!" Jaxith jumped up, proud of himself. "Oh hi." This was said when Jaxith became aware of the rest of the world staring at him.

"So glad you could join us, now get off my desk." Roy remarked sounded dry.

"But Colonel, you look so fantastic on the floor!" Edward protested mockingly.

"I'm sure you're well aware of the fact that if I stand up, you're going to be looking up at me again." Roy reminded Edward just to goad him.

"I had no idea that two of the possibly the most respected alchemists in this country are so… juvenile." Michel remarked, astonished. Edward and Roy both turned red, not really willing to comment while Alphonse and the rest of the office tried not to laugh. Moments later Edward's stomach growled.

"You came into my office before you fed yourself?" Roy blinked. "That's a first."

"We came here to invite Michel and Jaxith to dinner, sir." Alphonse explained.

"Food? You have food?" Michel asked with big eyes, he was extremely hungry.

"Sure, I'd love to go!" Jaxith smiled and quickly picked up and organized his work. Michel and Jaxith were soon standing at the door, both eager to get some food.

"And where will y'all be eating?" Roy asked as he collected himself off the floor and moved back to his desk.

"Y'all? You just said y'all." Michel was stunned.

"It means 'you all'." Jaxith explained, making an effort not to say y'all. "We say it all the time out West."

"But he's-" Michel protested.

"-From Clayston." Roy reminded Michel. "Didn't you just spend a great deal of time writing about that?"

"Er, yes." Michel felt idiotic.

"We're going to that restaurant on Lavender and Kingsly."(1) Edward explained. "I've seen you there with those one night stands you're always having."

"Yes, I do know the place." Roy glared at Edward. "Who's paying?"

"Are you volunteering?" Edward asked, smirking. "Because I am removing what should be your burden from your shoulders."

"How noble of you!" Armstrong burst into the office dramatically, tears and pink sparkles present around him in abundance. "Offering to pay for everyone's meal! A generosity worthy of an Armstrong!" Roy sat down the floor, his eyes wide, stunned by the unexpected outburst.

"Thank you Uncle Roy!" Jaxith smirked. Roy turned blue, feeling rather manipulated.

"I'll have to come with you then." Roy looked to the side, praying he could hold back Edward's stomach.

"What, you don't trust me with money?" Edward asked.

"It's not that, I just don't want to leave you without enough." Roy waved it off, pulling himself and his work off the floor.

"That's very thoughtful of you, Colonel." Alphonse 'smiled'. An amazing feat, considering that he was currently armor.

"Major, what are you doing here?" Breda asked Armstrong.

"I brought some photographs for young Skibbereen's project." Armstrong explained holding up a photo album.

"Oh thank you!" Jaxith exclaimed taking the photographs from Armstrong.

"Fullmetal, come here." Roy said, having reached the bottom of his paperwork; the one on the bottom happened to be Edward's report. Edward walked over to the desk, looking bored.

"What the heck is that supposed to be?" Roy pointed at an entire page that didn't make much sense.

"Oh, that's my personal notes!" Edward rubbed the back of his head. "I didn't mean to turn that in."

"You have a doodle of Miss Rockbell throwing wrenches at me with devil horns." Roy did not look amused. (2) Edward snatched the sheet from him quickly. Alphonse moaned; apparently Edward's doodles were all this bad.

"This is my research and you have no right to be looking at it!" Edward glared back.

"You have an appointment with me at oh nine hundred hours tomorrow."(3) Roy told Edward and went back to finishing reading the report.

"These paintings are absolutely extraordinary! The artist is worthy of much acclamation indeed!" Armstrong bellowed with joy when he finally noticed Jaxith's artwork on the wall. Everyone in the office sweatdropped when Armstrong stood there and went on a tirade about how truly magnificent the artwork was. Fuery put a pair of headphones on and went back to his paperwork. Breda and Falman put in earplugs. Havoc banged his head against the desk and pretended to be dead. Riza simply rolled her eyes and endured.

"Did you draw those, Jax?" Michel asked.

"Yes." Jaxith answered quietly.

"Nice." Michel nodded in approval. "When'd you do them?"

"In the little lull I had before school started." Jaxith explained.

"Ah." Michel nodded.

"Let's go before he notices we're leaving." Roy said jerked his head at Armstrong, having finished his paperwork.

"Sure."

-At the restaurant-

"Ed!" Michel gasped, recognizing his calculus teacher. Euclid had dressed himself differently, wearing a nice pair of black slacks as opposed to beat up, torn military trousers. He was wearing a white dress shirt, notably buttoned up (as he usually unbuttons it during class for 'comfort' reasons). Suspenders, as well as a red bowtie was present.(4) His hair was pulled back into a loose bun at the base of his neck, making him look extremely professional and nice. Under one arm was a present wrapped in red.

"Oh, hello Mike." Euclid smiled; he was not wearing glasses, either.

"You're dressed…strangely." Jaxith remarked.

"He looks normal to me." Edward remarked. "If anything, he's a bit formal."

"Does is surprise you that I have a life out of school, Jax?" Euclid asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'm waiting for my wife; we're having our anniversary dinner."

"Ah," Roy nodded, "so how have things been for you?"

"I'm fine if that's what you're asking. People yell a lot at schools, I'm used to it." Euclid wave Roy off.

"Who is he?" Edward asked Jaxith and Michel.

"Our calculus teacher." Michel explained. "And the father of one of my best friends."

"Ah." Edward nodded.

"So, Mike, Jax, who are this two?" Euclid eyed Edward and Alphonse.

"This is Edward and Alphonse Elric, they're friends of mine." Jaxith introduced them.

"Nice to meet you." Euclid nodded. "I'm Euclid Derivative. Call me Ed."

"I can see why." Edward muttered. "Nice to meet you too!"

"'Clidy!" A female voice called from behind.

"That'd be my wife. Have a good evening." Euclid said quickly, embarrassed by his nickname.

"I wonder if Al gave him that one…." Jaxith muttered.

"I did what?" Alphonse was confused.

"No, no, Avogadro Lanthanide, my chemistry teacher. He calls himself 'Al'." Jaxith explained.

"Are you two coming?" Roy called, already inside the restaurant.

"Yes!" The two boys ran in. Soon everyone was seated at a table and finished ordering their food.

"So, Jaxith who are you going to ask to the dance?" Michel asked.

"I thought I told you, I'm not going." Jaxith told Michel back.

"A dance?" Edward asked, eyebrows rising. Back in Risembol they had barn dances, which were a lot of fun. Edward honestly saw no reason as to why Jaxith wouldn't want to go.

"Is it because you're lacking a date?" Roy asked, innocently.

"I can't dance." Jaxith was red with shame.

"Didn't Mary teach you?" Roy asked, concerned.

"Tried to." Jaxith muttered, feeling pathetic.

"Ah, just like Cindy." Roy smiled. "She can't dance either."

"Why don't you go with some friends to chat?" Alphonse asked. "When we had dances back home, there were people who sat all of them out to sit and chat with their friends instead."

"So you and Ed are willing to come then?" Jaxith then asked.

"Umm…." Edward didn't want to be forced into to something, but Jaxith had a desperate expression on his face.

"I'm going to ask Samantha." Michel announced deciding a change of subject was needed.

"Really? Good luck." Jaxith reminded his friend.

"Edward, do you know how to dance?" Roy asked.

"Yes." Edward looked offended. "Our mom and Teacher taught us."

"Yeah, dancing and fighting have a lot in common." Alphonse chimed in.

"Maybe you just need a good partner." Michel remarked. Jaxith shook his head.

"So what kind of dance is this?" Roy asked.

"It's an informal one, practice for the Hallows Eve Dance." Michel explained.

"Hallows Eve?" Alphonse asked.

"Do you not celebrate Hallows Eve in Risembol?" Roy asked.

"We celebrate by lighting candles in the windows and fasting." Edward explained. "It's kind of a somber holiday out there."

"Ah, out West we have dances in honor of the dead." Roy explained. "Usually dressing up as sprits so that we can be closer to them."

"It's one of the few nights you don't drink." Jaxith nodded.

"In Central we have a festival." Michel explained. "Where is Risembol?"

"It's a tiny town out East." Edward explained.

"Ah." Michel nodded, knowing that it was a rural farming community. "So who are you guys dressing up as for Hallows Eve?"

"I don't dress up on Hallows Eve, I have to work." Roy explained when everyone looked at him expectantly. "The military lets children come around and pick up candy in their costumes and my office is on the route they take. After that's closed, I usually go downtown with my subordinates to help keep the peace for the festivities down there."

"That sucks." Michel surmised.

"Not really, I get free food." Roy shrugged. "It not hard either, I just have to stand around and glare at anyone who's looking for trouble."

"We're usually on the road." Alphonse explained. "And we just do what we would in Risembol wherever we happen to be."

"But you're going to be here, so what are you dressing up as?" Michel asked.

"Umm…." Edward paused. "I haven't thought that far ahead."

"Like usual." Alphonse muttered. "I'll probably just walk around in my armor."

"That's so lame." Michel said. "Why don't you take it off and dress as something different?"

"Because it's his hobby." Edward answered quickly.

"I don't know yet myself." Jaxith answered. "But I think I have an idea."

"Oh?" Michel asked.

"I'll tell you later!" Jaxith smirked. "I want it to be a surprise."

Before Michel could protest food arrived, ending the conversation.

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Whoo! I have a good few notes this time around.

1- An intersection in Central that's about 4 blocks from Headquarters.

2- Coming soon to my Deviant Art account! There will be a link on my profile and through my homepage.

3- Oh nine hundred hours is 09:00 military time. It's how they say it in the military.

4- This implies that Euclid's pants aren't fitted. Men usually didn't use belts in the 1910s, they used suspenders. This also implies that Euclid does not own a vest to cover his suspenders.

So now Edward's going to a school dance, whatever could this mean? And what the heck is Jaxith's idea of a costume? Drop a review and I'll update answers more quickly!