I GOT IT UP GUYS! ... 3 days late... BUT IT'S UP. I kind of got a bit of the kick in the pants today because now we're pretty sure than the new date for AlMei week is going to be August 3-9, and if I keep schedule, RFD should end August 10. So I think that would be like ending AlMei week with a huge bang. But to finish then I need to stay on schedule. And today was kind of the latest I was willing to update and still call it last week's.
So here it is! Super super late, but here.
"Dad?"
Al felt his heart jump a little in his chest. He looked up from the book he had been half-heartedly trying to read and jumped to his feet.
"Mom?"
"Em!" he shouted, hurrying to the door.
"Daddy!" He pulled open the door and didn't even really wait for his brain to recognize the image of his daughter there before he was pulling her into her arms.
"Oh, baby, you're home!"
"Daddy," she said, hugging him back tightly. He held his hand against the back of her head so that her face was in his shoulder. He squeezed her again tightly before letting go. She smiled at him and Al took the moment to really take her in.
She hadn't changed that much over the past year and a half, but her face had narrowed slightly. Her hair was longer, pulled back in a braid and—
"You grew out your bangs!"
"You would not believe how annoying bangs are when you're sweating all the time! I was so happy when they were finally long enough to keep out of my face."
"So it's hot?"
"It is so hot," Emily responded. "But during the night it's freezing. The weather here seems so mild now."
"That's wonderful, honey."
"Is that my baby?" Emily turned and hurried down the hall.
"Mom!" Mei caught her daughter in her arms, kissing her on the forehead.
"You're back!"
"I'm back," Emily agreed with a grin.
"How are you? Did you love it?"
"I loved it, Mom. It was the most amazing experience. I've learned so much! And I've met so many amazing people!"
"Speaking of amazing people, don't think I haven't seen you lurking there in the doorway, Moshe," Mei said, looking past her daughter to where the Ishvalan was indeed standing awkwardly in the doorway holding three bags of luggage. "Al, don't just stand there staring at the boy, we knew he was coming. Help him with that luggage."
Al moved forward with jerky movements and took some of the suitcases from him.
"I am so sorry to impose, Mr. and Mrs. Elric. Thank you so much for letting me stay here for a few weeks."
"Of course! Once we heard you had never been to Central, of course we were going to let you stay with us."
"If you ever want to get rid of me, please tell me. I will leave right away. I feel awful imposing like this."
"It's not imposing if we're inviting you, Moshe. Come on in, please."
"Thank you so much Mrs. Elric," he said, still with his suitcase clutched in his hand, probably because he was afraid of being rude by just dropping it.
"Of course, we're delighted. Aren't we Al?"
"… right. We're delighted."
"Dad," Emily said quickly. Moshe's smile faded slightly and Mei glared at Al.
"It's… it's an honor to meet you, Mr. Elric," Moshe tried after brief silence. "The Kah speaks very highly of you and your brother."
"The Kah. That's what they're calling Scar these days, isn't it?" Moshe winced a little.
"Yes. But no one calls him that anymore. In fact it's considered quite offensive… Scar is the name of a man that he once was. He left that man behind when he almost died on the Promised Day and became the Kah."
"It translates roughly to the forgiven or reformed sinner," Emily added helpfully.
"Have you started to pick up ancient Ishvalan?"
"Grandpa Scar's taught me a little. I mean, most Ishvalans just speak Amestrians. It's only the elders, they're called the Aswani, that really remember the language at all."
"I've never really learned it aside from the prayers. It was always far too complicated for me, but she's a great learner," Moshe said, smiling at her. "I've never seen anyone pick anything up so quickly. I've met Amestrians who have lived in Ishval for years who know less about our traditions and customs than Emily. Everyone is impressed when they learn she's only been there for a year and a half."
"She gets it from her father," Mei responded, glancing at Al. "He adjusted so quickly to Xing. There were rough spots of course just because it was his first encounter with such a different society, but he actually adjusted very well. And when we were traveling the East together, he was always so eager to learn about the people that if he wasn't the only blond he would have fit right in."
"Moshe's really good at learning too," Emily said, a little pink from his earlier complimenting. "I've never taught anyone who's picked up on alchemy so fast."
Al raised an eyebrow, but this time it was genuine surprise instead of contempt.
"You're learning alchemy? Isn't that against Ishvala's rules?"
"Well he's not actually learning how to do it. He's more just learning how it works and the rules of it and all. He can't help me with my research if he has no clue what to look for or can't understand it."
"Still, I'm even surprised that you're helping her with her research."
"Well… I wasn't really raised in, I guess you could say, mainstream Ishvalan culture. And even then, modern Ishvalan culture doesn't have the same opinions of alchemy as they did fifty years ago," Moshe explained.
"It's still a taboo, but I feel like alchemy itself isn't a sin. It's not a sin to create a pot out of clay, is it? I'm pretty sure I'm… unique among Ishvalans, because… I feel like alchemy is actually a gift given to men by Ishvala. Its purpose is to help mankind. I've only ever seen Emily use alchemy to help others.
"The sin comes when the alchemist thinks themselves above Ishvala or his creations. When they think that their creations are more perfect than what they were before, they are sinning. When they think that they are more powerful than Ishvala, they are sinning. When they think that their power gives them the right to control other peoples' lives, they are sinning.
"So it's not really about alchemy itself, it's about what you do with it."
There was slight silence after his speech while everyone stared at him. Then Al nodded.
"That's very deep, Moshe. I appreciated that."
"Thank you, sir. And all the same, I don't think I'll ever attempt to become an alchemist, but I don't see anything wrong with learning more about it or condemn anyone who practices the art themselves… as long as they're using it the right way."
"Which people don't always," Al pointed out, to which Moshe nodded in agreement.
"No, no they don't. Alchemy is power bestowed upon men by Ishvala, just like our bodies and our choices, but men don't always use those properly either."
"How is it possible for us humans to be some of the most outstanding and flawed creatures in the universe?"
Moshe shrugged. "Because Ishvala wished for us to be so. We couldn't get better if we were already perfect, could we?"
"Hmm."
Silence fell between the two men before Mei finally broke it.
"Well you two must be hungry. The train ride from Ishval to Central is not a short one. What do you think about heading to Liwu's restaurant?"
"That sounds wonderful. I can't wait to see Adam and Anne again!"
Liwu was overjoyed to see his little sister home again and expressed this by coming out of the kitchen when he heard they had arrived, trapping her head under one arm and messing up her braid. Then she was swarmed by children and had to stop and left Moshe at the mercy of her brother.
"So you're the guy who thinks he's good enough for my little sister?"
"… huh?"
"How many times have you kissed her?"
"… none?"
"You said that as if it was a question."
"… it wasn't."
"You're hesitant."
"We've never kissed." The poor boy looked about ready to die. Liwu was far from giving up though, and was now circling around him inspecting him as if he was a pig he was about to slaughter.
"Hmm. Dad, shall we show him what happens to men when they try to court Elric women?"
Al raised an eyebrow. "I fear you'll have to show me as well. I don't remember you treating any of Nina's boyfriends like this."
"I couldn't wait to get rid of Nina. This is my baby sister we're talking about." Now Liwu stood directly in front of Moshe, and stood an inch or so taller. "You think you're good enough for her?"
"… Yes?"
"Brave man."
"Liwu," Mei said sharply. He glanced at her before grinning sheepishly and stepping back.
"Dad knows where I'm coming from," Liwu muttered, acting for the entire world like an eight year old instead of the 28 year old adult he actually was.
"Actually, the boy's starting to grow on me."
Liwu, Moshe, and Mei all double took and stared at the Amestiran. "Really?"
He looked at all three of theirs expressions.
"I said starting to."
If there was anything that made Al madder than he already was, it was that the next few weeks and eventually month only made him like the kid even more. It was always a perfect gentleman around his daughter, and the look of fear in his eyes when he looked at Al after doing something even the slightest bit wrong was very satisfying. Al could recognize the look in his red eyes when he looked at his daughter.
And worse, he could recognize the look in his daughter's when she looked at the Ishvalan.
Well, that was when she could pull her nose out of her research journal.
It was eventually Moshe's uncanny ability to make Emily recognize the time and actually eat that broke the camel's back.
So when the boy asked the question that he knew was coming since the moment he first heard the boy's name in Emily's letter, he could only sigh.
"You know, I thought this would get easier after having to do it two times." Al took a deep breath. "I like you Moshe. I was fully prepared when Emily told me that you were coming to hate you for trying to take my baby away from me. Then you just had to go and make me like you."
"I'm… sorry?"
Al sighed. "No, don't be sorry. If you couldn't make me like you then you wouldn't be worthy of her. I just almost wish you weren't because now I have no excuse but to let her go."
"So… I can?"
"You'll understand one day, Moshe, how hard this is for me. When you have to let another man take one of the most precious things in your life away from you because you know it's what's best. But… yes."
"Thank you, sir. Thank you so much."
Al smiled weakly. "You don't have to call me 'sir', Moshe. Not if you're going to be my son in law."
"Thank you so much… Dad?"
"You're welcome, son. Now go out there and make my daughter's day."
Mei almost didn't recognize the man who greeted them when the train got off. His hair had always been white and grey, but now it was all white. His namesake had faded away so much it was almost hard to see. There were creases everywhere in his face, but more around his eyes and mouth than she would have expected.
"Princess, Ambassador."
Al helped her off the train, before she hurried over to the tall man and threw her arms around him.
"Hello, Mr. Scar."
He eventually put his arms around her, hugging her back.
"It is good to see you again, Princess," he rumbled.
The separated and Al approached the two, laying a casual hand on his wife's back. "Thank you for watching over Emily while she was here."
"The pleasure was all mine. She reminded me very much of you, Princess." Mei smiled. "And you as well, Ambassador. It's no wonder she's grown up to be such an accomplished young lady."
"I still wonder how we were ever blessed enough to have her."
"Ishvala blesses those who do good in this world. Both of you were deserving of this happiness."
"And you?"
"I have long questioned that myself, Edward Elric. Eventually I came to the conclusion that Ishvala has been giving me the chance to atone for my sins, and through that atonement find happiness."
Ed, who truth be told was looking almost as grey and wrinkled as the man he was talking to, snorted and walked off down the station platform, all the while cursing at the cane he was now depend on to walk. The cursing was interrupted by a bout of coughing. Winry sighed and followed after him, casting an apologetic glance at her brother in law and his wife.
"I see he has not changed much," Scar, or rather, the Kah said, staring after the pair.
"Ed's not someone who changes easily," Al responded, staring after his brother. Then he shook his head. "Regardless, thank you. And thank you for agreeing to marry them. We were so confused as to how we were going to mix in a third custom to the wedding, so when Emily agreed to a traditional Ishvalan wedding as long as you performed it, and you agreed… it was a relief."
"I am honored to do it. Moshe's father is quite a prominent man because of his connection with the High Cleric, they could have even conceivably had her do it. So it is an honor for them to ask for me."
"Well if it wasn't for you they never would have met."
The Kah raised an eyebrow and Al explained himself further. "We never would have let her go if we didn't know that you were here to watch over her."
Then he paused and started laughing.
"What?" Mei asked cocking her head in confusion.
"If you could tell my 14 year old self that the only reason I was letting my daughter study in Ishval alone was because Scar was going to be there to watch over her…"
The Kah smiled. "It is amusing how things have changed, is it not?" Bells began to ring out and all three of them turned. "Come, let us go."
The couple followed the Ishvalan man, Al still chuckling under his breath about "A serial killer. I've been trusting my daughter's safety to an ex-serial killer. Who tried to kill me!"
Her thick black hair had been wetted down and pulled back so that her face would have been clearly visible if it wasn't covered by a veil. She was dressed all in white, even the sash around her waist. It made her dark hair stand out sharply and look even more beautiful. Her gold eyes shone as Al led her to the canopy where Moshe was already waiting for her.
He was also dressed in all white, and was smiling widely as he watched her approach. This was the first time they had seen each other in a week.
Al and Emily made a full circle of the canopy before he handed his daughter off to Moshe, standing outside next to Mei like he had been told.
He watched from there as Scar had them prick each other's fingers (Moshe made a comment under his breath Al was pretty sure only Emily was supposed to hear about him cutting her again, which Al wasn't quite sure what to make of) and stain a white linin with their blood.
Emily had explained the reasoning behind that beforehand, which Al was grateful for because the Kah was performing the whole ceremony in ancient Ishvalan. The tradition of staining the wedding band is an ancient tradition from the necessity of a wedded couple to be one flesh and one blood. In recent years it had come to also represent the spilt blood of the Ishvalan people.
Then he wrapped the band tightly around their wrists. They would have to spend the rest of the night with their wrists tied together, as an exercise in working together as a team. Not that Emily and Moshe didn't have plenty of practice at that already.
Each of them received a mark in red clay on their foreheads before Scar kissed both of them on the tops of their heads.
Then, as if that was a signal, cheers and cries of "Praise Ishvala!" began ringing through the town square.
Al felt the tears stinging in the corners of his eyes as Moshe led his little girl down the path that formed out of the crowd into the house they would be living in for at least a few months. He knew that they would be emerging in a few minutes to attend a feast in their honor, but they were allowed a few minutes before hand to be with each other.
Al wouldn't be surprised if his daughter was getting her first kiss inside that room right now. She had made it quite clear that they had never even kissed before today. "He's a perfect gentleman, Daddy. He asked before he hugged me the first time."
He kissed the top of Mei's head, rubbing his hand up and down her arm, to which she only laughed and brushed the tears off her face with a hand.
They mostly just waited there for a few moments, a few people wishing them congratulations on the marriage of their daughter. Then the two emerged from the front door and lifted their joined hands.
"Aren't we supposed to be having a feast?"
I had fun coming up with Ishvalan wedding traditions. That was a lot of fun.
So someone last week managed to guess what this chapter was going to be about. Any one care to guess about next chapter? There was a hint in the chapter. The only other hint I'm going to give you is that I really don't want to write it.