The Other Exams
By: Bar-Ohki
Disclaimer: Some say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one! One day, if I am extremely lucky, I may own Fullmetal Alchemist, but until that day I will disclaim my ownership.
Recap: Mustang plays with his favorite toy: fire, Armstrong is out-sparkles the competition, Kimblee is a mining homeboy, Grand was just after another promotion, and Tucker is one screwed up man.
Other Stuff: I come baring good and bad news. Bad news is I only have two more chapters left in this story. Good news is that I graduated from high school and I will have more time for fan fiction as I am now on summer break. I'm still buzzed and excited that I graduated. Actually my graduation brought a lot of family over and had me playing hostess which is why this update is late and slow in coming. Another piece of good news is that I will probably write another fan fiction in the future, so look out for it.
Wow I have enough to remark about that it will take more than one paragraph! I promise I won't do this again…. I'm sorry that the chapter with Tucker was the shortest one, but I really didn't want to spend any more time on him than I had to. And yet at the same time I enjoyed writing about him, because I know that I'm not really like that. And as a shot out to my reviewers: THANK YOU!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!! Well, now enough of me gushing, onto the good stuff!
Chapter 6: Silver Lining
Jolio Comanche was a chubby man. He was old with a remarkably pointy mustache. At a glance there wasn't anything to noticeable about the man other than that he was bald and wore a top hat. He liked to dress formally in a tuxedo and was short a leg. Instead of automail, Jolio made use of a peg leg. To bring out that pirate within or something….(1)
Today he sat down at the office doing paperwork.(2) He had his habitual pink cup of coffee in his left hand and pen in the right. Like a normal day, he didn't forget to wear his white gloves that covered the many intrigue transmutation circles tattooed on his palms and fingers. His gloved hands fingered the pink coffee cup. This was a special coffee cup, his mother had given it to him on the day he was given his watch. Of course his mother hadn't checked to see which cup she had grabbed, because if she had she would have noticed that this one didn't say "congratulations", but rather "world's best mom". Jolio decided to keep it and not speak a word of this mistake to his mother.
Beside the coffee cup sat a picture. It was one of those images that really did say one thousand words. It was Jolio holding the pink coffee cup in one hand and his newly gotten watch in the other. He had a big, somewhat stupid-looking grin on his face. This was back when he still had a bit of hair perched atop his head.
Colonel Comanche glanced at the picture while sipping his coffee. He smiled and remembered his exam in great detail every time he saw that photo.
-break-
Jolio was 40 years old. Though he was unmarried, he had a steady job that paid the bills. He was a jeweler in Rush Valley. The one thing that separated him from other jewelers though, was rather than forging, he transmuted it. He was an expert at manipulating metals into all sorts of shapes and sizes. He loved doing just that more than anything else in the world.
Jolio believed in working hard and always doing the best he could. This is why his jewelry was getting quiet famous and desired by others. He did all sorts of requests without thought.(3) After a 10 years of successful business Jolio expanded his options and started making weaponry, which was again a hit among many.(4)
After 20 years of hard work it occurred to the man that he should spare himself sometime and get his circles tattooed on his hands. Drawing the circles every time was getting too tedious for the fellow.
One fine December morning, Jolio set himself down on a train heading to Central. His good friend Bubba Ho'Tep, a heavily tattooed man that was also ex-military, recommended Jolio to one Galiero Ecrevan. Mr. Ecrevan was the official tattoo artist of the military, tattooing transmutation circles onto State Alchemists since 1864.(5)
Of course Jolio was inclined to use the tattoo artist of military caliber as he wanted several, tiny circles tattooed along the lengths of his fingers. It would be a difficult task for anyone, and one little mess up could cost him a rebound. And that was the one thing Jolio never wanted to deal with.
The train ride wasn't memorable, it just took two days and left Comanche with a sore ass. As we all know, that is within the realm of normal train travel expectancy. Even the crying baby in the seat behind him, and getting stuck between two men with body odor issues were in the realm of normal. So for these reasons Jolio never bothered to remember the train trip.
Comanche had made his own life easier by hiring a cab to take him to Mr. Ecrevan's parlor. The parlor was in a Xingese style complex on the nicer end of town. The establishment was about five blocks south of Headquarters and had a comely and humble appearance despite the foreign influence on the architecture. Jolio opened the door to "Ecrevan's Tattoo Parlor Est. 1864", or so the welcoming sign proclaimed. There was a satisfying "dingle" of a bell as the door shut. Jolio knew he was in the right place.
The room he had entered had an extremely detailed mural on the side wall. It was a dynamic image of several well-known State Alchemists mid-transmutation fighting some classic "bad guys". The entire wall was nicely framed by two tacky plastic palm trees. The other walls were a calming lavender color.
Well-used brown leather couches were against two of the non-mural walls, while the last had a counter with a bright green cash register sat. On the back wall behind the counter was yet again, another sign assuring that Jolio was indeed in the correct place. A small coffee table sat at a comfortable distance between the two couches. On the table were two neat stacks of various magazines. Jolio sat on one of the couches to find is remarkably cushy and comfortable.
An elderly man with graying hair and kind green eyes appeared behind the counter while Jolio was staring at the mural. The old man had a good share of homely wrinkles and a kind smile. He wore a clean, used blue shirt that had been bleached by the sun and wash a few times. On his arms one could see a few small, complex tattoos about his wrists.
"Is this a family-friendly practice you're running here?" Jolio asked quietly with an amused chuckle.
"Yes it is." The old man remarked with a dry chuckle. "Many State Alchemists are family men you know. I try not to scare their wives or children away." It was at this moment that Jolio realized that among the many types of magazines on the coffee table there were a few for children and a few maternity ones.
"Do you ever get weird looks for buying these kind of magazines?" Jolio couldn't help himself, the way the man carried himself made him approachable and easy to talk to.
"I have some of my old customers get the maternity issues, haven't had any problems buying the other kinds yet." He let out a merry laugh. "So tell me good sir, what brings you to my shop?"
"I want to get a tattoo." Jolio explained as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. And to anyone with any common sense it was, why else would one enter a tattoo parlor by one's self?
"You wouldn't be here if you didn't want one." The green eyed man chuckled. "I'm Galiero Ecrevan, the official tattoo artist of the military." He paused, sniffed a little in teary pride and moved on. "So sir what kind of tattoo do you need?"
Jolio got up and made his way to the counter. He placed an enlarged drawing of the exact circles he wanted on his hands before the artist.
"I would like these put on my hands." Jolio explained.
"Why?"
"What do you mean, 'why'?" Jolio sputtered, taken back by the question.
"You don't have a silver watch, why would you want these tattoos?" Mr. Ecrevan gave him a hard stare.
"Sir I own an alcho-forge down in Rush Valley. I've been drawing circles for 20 years and I'm a little sick of it." Jolio explained.(6)
"Then you can keep drawing circles." Mr. Ecrevan told Jolio simply. "I only do that kind of work for the military, or people who really need it."
"What!?" Jolio gasped.
"Its part of my contract and moral code. The moment I tattoo a circle on someone's hand I turn them into a living weapon. Unless they need to be such, I don't do it. Do you understand sir?"
"Yes." Jolio hissed and left the building quickly. He was angry and upset. The alchemist stormed down the street letting his legs carry him wherever they may. And that wherever happened to be Headquarters. Jolio stared up at the large, white building. Suddenly a thought struck him.
What if he became military? Then he could get his tattoo and some good reputation.
And so Comanche stormed up the steps and into the main room. He approached the lady at the front desk.
"I'd like to apply to become a State Alchemist." He told her.
"Are you sure sir?" The woman was a little bewildered. "The test is tomorrow."
"Fine by me." Jolio nodded and quickly began to fill out the paperwork.
-the next day-
Jolio sat down and much to the amazement of himself and everyone else in the room, took the written test cold without any prior studying.
He passed it, barely.
Soon Jolio stood in front of the doors to the interview room. It was then that his driving rage cooled off and he realized.
What the hell am I doing?
That's when the doors opened and Jolio Comanche walked into the room.
"Sit down, if you are an alchemist the chair will accept you." One of the people in the room explained. Jolio set his hand down on the golden stool and paused.
"This chair is steel with a thin gold coating. Alcho-forged plating by the looks of it." Jolio couldn't help himself, he was a master of metals and forging.
"…Yes, it is. How could you tell?" Bradley asked. It was then he remembered the smith that forged some of his best blades with alchemy.
"I'm a master alcho-forger." And with that Jolio sat down. "I am Jolio Comanche."
"Why did you wish to become a state alchemist?" A new voice asked.
"I make weapons and jewelry." Jolio began carefully. "I know that the military has people that already do those sorts of things for them, but I forge everything I do with alchemy. I could make weapons for others on a battlefield on short notice, I could make that fancy necklace for your wife on the sly for really cheep. I thought I could be of use."
"Well if your skills are what you claim them to be-" there was a shifting of chairs then one of the Fuhrer's clattered to the floor. There was silence.
"Hey- I made that…." Jolio recognized it immediately.
"Yes you did." Bradley came into view and picked up his blade. "It's one of my best ones."
More silence.
"I look forward to your practical." Bradley said very a matter-a-factly.
"Thank you sir." Jolio stood up and bowed.
-break-
Jolio had been fourth in line. That's all he remembered, not the other contestants, or even what they did, just that he was fourth. He knew he wasn't last, but he couldn't remember how many other contestants there were. Such were the problems of age. Jolio sighed and looked back to his neglected paperwork. He set to work on it with the drive he had once had to become a state alchemist.
"Colonel sir!" One of his subordinates rushed in and saluted. Comanche looked up and realized he couldn't remember the boy's name. No matter, he called all is subordinates by their rank or 'boy' if they were new.
"Yes?"
"I have the list of State Alchemist candidates for this year sir." The subordinate handed him a slip of paper. Comanche looked down the list. It was a simple list, stating the names, ages, and basic physical appearance of the candidates. There was a column labeled "other" for any other details that didn't fit in the basic description. Comanche knew that one the current State Alchemist roster, a list that happened to have been in much the same format, he was one of the few that had an entry in the "other" section. It remarked how he had a peg leg.
For the first time since he became a state alchemist Comanche observed that there was something written in the "other" category for one of the candidates.
How unusual…. Not only was there an entry, it was a fairly long one. Comanche made himself look at the beginning of the entry.
Edward Elric Age: 11 Appearance: hair long, blond eyes no, gold height m. weight 59 kg Other: lost right arm and left leg in border skirmishes, from tiny farming town (Rizenbol), mother deceased, father missing, one younger brother, mechanic(s) Rockbell (phone at 348 4068-2295 ext. 6021)
An 11 year old? Comanche swore there was a typo there. Had to be. He continued to glance down the sheet and reminisced the rest of test.
-break-
"Jolio Comanche." The proctor called out after the previous alchemist finished. Jolio stood up and listened to other gasp and whisper.
"Isn't that that jeweler from Rush Valley!?" Was one of the more common phrases. This made Jolio smug.
"Ma'am," he approached his proctor, "I can only sample my work today, I didn't have enough room on my gloves for all the circles I wanted."
"Oh?" The woman eyed him wearily. "That's a lame excuse."
"No, I'm just telling you to keep in mind that we are only sampling here. I intend to be impressive enough to pass, no worrying there." With that Jolio slipped on his gloves. He approached the rock wall and began transmuting.
To the on looker it looked as if a magician had just walked on stage and was making necklaces, rings, and bracelets appear out of nowhere with a few sparks here and there. Soon he was pulling daggers, swords, maces, bullets, and other weapons out of the wall. After a few minutes he set out all his things for the proctor to examine.
She was startled to find all the weapons balanced and sharp. They were of different weights and each hilt had a distinct feel. She was sure the man could build her the perfect weapon if she asked. The jewelry was beautiful, made solely of silver and extremely complicated. One piece was knotted in on itself so many times that she wondered faintly if it was even one piece of metal. A ring sat in front of her that had a dazzling engraving on it.
"You really are a master alcho-forger." She gasped.
"And this my fine lady," Jolio paused and held out what was the prettiest piece of jewelry there, "is for you."
Two days later Jolio sat in front of his proctor. It turned out she was a general.
"Congratulations Major Jolio Comanche, you are now the Silver Alchemist." She handed him his state watch.
"The only part of this that doesn't have silver lining," he began, "is that I didn't get to make my own watch. I would have liked that very much."
His general only laughed.
-break-
"So you're an alchemist of the state now?" Mr. Ecrevan looked over the watch making sure it was real.
"Yes."
"Are you sure that was a good idea Major Comanche?" The green eyes bored into Jolio.
"I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think it was a good idea. I think things through very thoroughly, trust me, I wouldn't be here again if I didn't fully believe I was doing the correct thing." Jolio glared at the man for doubting his resolve. Mr. Ecrevan sighed.
"Sometimes I wonder how many people die by my arrays…." He muttered.
"Sir?" Jolio was confused.
"I own all the tattoos I make in a way. They are apart of me." Mr. Ecrevan began. "Sometimes I wonder how many people die to the weapons I create. Right now I wonder how many will die by through your arrays…."
"I create weapons, but I don't kill." Jolio assured him.
"I've heard a lot of boys say that and come back having killed more lives than they can count." Mr. Ecrevan was not amused. "But I can't refuse your service now, so let me see that array you want."
They spent the next hour battering over the price.
-break-
"Sir?" Another subordinate asked him.
"No, you can't get a tattoo. Not unless you're willing to sign off hundreds of deaths that come by it." Colonel Comanche eyed the man. "Don't be like me boy. Don't ignore the consequences and good advice that others give you."
"Yes sir?" The solider was confused.
"Good, you're dismissed then."
1- Or so his subordinates claim.
2- As opposed to Roy Mustang who lives by the phrase "If it weren't for the last minute, nothing would get done" for the inspiration to get him to complete his paperwork. Or Hawkeye, whichever is more convincing at the time.
3- Lyra (from the anime, girl with purple hair that was Yoki's maid, forgive me if I just misspelled her name) had her necklace made by this guy.
4- Bradley has a grand total of 18 of this guy's swords. Only three of these 18 did go out and buy for himself. He would have gotten four at the time he purchased the three, but there were sadly, only three in stock at the time.
5- Do remember in the movie that three years after the series is 1912 for them. I'm sticking on that timeline.
6- An alcho-forge (meaning something that is the result of a transmutation) is a common term, slang at the point in time of the flashback, but an official word in the time of the present. A familiar example of alcho-forging would be when Ed makes an alcho-forged sword of his automail to fight with.