Amestris

Sighing heavily, Darna plopped into a seat farthest away from everyone else. She needed some time to drown out her woes and thoughts. An attendant asked her what she wanted, she replied with a hefty, "Scotch. The whole bottle, thank you." It wasn't a long ride to Taven's, but she didn't care too much right now. Her brain was buzzing, her blood was boiling, and she was confused. Darna hated being confused. She loathed it. Confusion was not fit for the mind of an alchemist. Perhaps for only a moment, before everything was figured out, but right now, she was at a complete loss for what had just happened.

That feeling, the light, the organic, pure alchemy flowing from that body. She'd seen a glimpse of it once before. Seven years ago. The screams returned and for a moment Darna winced. Placing her hand on her forehead, she leaned against the window to her left and closed her eyes. It was sad that the blind could still see their dreams. It was horribly unfortunate for Darna that all she could remember was the thing she'd created wailing and crawling on the ground in front of her. The screams from the mother, the disgust from her parents.

"Your Scotch ma'am?" The attendant yanked Darna from her personal nightmare and she smiled weakly.

"Yeah, thanks." Like usual, she put her middle finger into the glass and filled it up to her second knuckle. In one gulp, Darna emptied it. The liquid dulled every thing from her tongue to her stomach and she sighed with relief. It burned and she felt human for a moment. Another swig.

Her companions, or the people she was traveling with rather, were all chit-chatting about whatever. Darna remained alone. She wanted it that way while she sorted all the crap out. When they got to Taven's though, she would be a different person. Sipping her scotch properly now, the Colonel grinned at the better memories of her new life. Taven was a sly old man who thought of nothing but learning more. He had been a great mentor and father figure for her. It would be nice seeing him again. The one person she could trust the most in the world with her secrets.

Perhaps he could ease her mind from the pain? Maybe Taven would know what she saw go on that train before it exploded? Shrugging, Darna kept her head leaned against the window as she sipped heavily on her drink.

Issac found himself smiling, laughing a little as well. It had been a long time since he had been around people for so long, and he had almost forgotten what it felt like. After his father was killed, he was alone. after he had attempted to bring him back, even though he was taken in, he was even worse than alone. Worse, because despite the fact that he was still alive and mostly whole, and little worse for the wear, he knew his father...no, the monster he had created, who would surely take his father's image to torment him, was out there somewhere as well.

Lost in his thoughts, it wasn't until an attendant ask him something that he stirred, and had to ask the man to repeat the question. "Oh, a drink? I don't suppose you have any tea, do you? Preferable sweet?" He asked kindly enough, giving the man a false smile. He was in no mood for smiles now, but having been raised a gentleman he would be as curteous as possible, even if he were only to speak to this person once in his entire life. The attendant nodded and returned a false smile, then left and returned a few moments later with a cup and a saucer, and a small bowl of sugar cubes with a spoon. It was all more fancy that he had expected, or was used to, but he accepted it graciously.

With the sugar melting nicely in his hot tea, Issac held it under his nose for a moment, breathing on it to cool it, slowly, and began to look everyone over. The strange boy had some sort of journal out, and it looked very important to him, the way he held it away from others and was muttering to himself. Vincent and Blythe were speaking of alchohol and drinking together, and then he made a toast, and without even realizing he was doing it, Issac raised his own cup, then realized it must have seemed foolish. Lowering his cup, and finally taking a sip, he looks and finds Miss Darna, alone. She looked deep in thought, as if she prefered to be alone now, and so he would leave her be.

"I don't mean to spoil anything...if I do I'm sorry...but, just before the train exploded back there," issac began, slowly, setting his cup aside, "Did anyone else see a man in black get on board?"

Riley too noticed that man. But then he began thinking of something else. He put his journal down, open to a page filled with his own language. Only Riley knew the code, and he had only one piece of paper to decode it, which was safely tucked away. He looked up and noted "Thats why i have both" he told Vincent. "And the actual unedited addition that managed to get 20-30 copies out before it was changed." he noted, getting another glass of milk. As he returned, the table shook slightly, causing the alcoholic drink to get a nearby plant decorating the floor somewhat wet.

He then told Darna "It would be best to remember that some of the officers also wear all black sometimes". As he sat down, he took a look at his journal. "Well, at least this is safe" he though out loud. He put away the journal and sat back down. He got more into reading his book, he became slightly unaware about his surroundings.

(And yes, later on someone may start to notice the tree slowly dying O.O)(and i cant think of stuff too much right now, gotta go actually!)

Darna had heard Vincent's question, but pretended not to hear. It was made easier to hide her bad acting when Isaac asked his question. No, as a matter of fact she hadn't seen a man in black. Nor would she ever. Sighing inwardly, Darna took another swig of her liquor. It didn't burn when it went down anymore, and her head was starting to swim a little. That meant they were close. They'd been riding for little over an hour now which was about right. Darna thought for a moment, perhaps it wasn't a good thing that she could calculate there proximity to her guardians home with her consumption of alcohol? Perhaps, but she didn't care.

As if by some universal equation working in Darna's favor, the train began to slow and come to a stop. Standing up, she finished off the last bit of scotch in her glass and clinked it down on the table.

"This is where we get off for the night." How nice it would be to sleep in her bed again. A real bed. A bed inside a home she would never give up. Remembering how they'd gotten on, Darna made her way carefully to the door and down the steps. Of course, it took her longer than normal to work it out, but she made it onto the platform without any broken bones. After the platform, she would find her way around as if she weren't a blind woman. The Colonel knew this tiny little village like the back of her hand. She could feel her way around all the forests and fields and never get lost.

She'd been silent the entire train ride, trying to keep her excitement at bay, and her apprehension. This mission had started off with a bang and it would mostly likely continue on that way. A little guidance, and possibly some gossip, from Taven could help them out. A nice warm meal wouldn't hurt either. It would be better than that mess hall slop the military fed to them all the time.

Being polite, Darna waited for the others. There was no way they could get lost on their way there; one long dirt road straight into the one street town and on past to the house hidden in the trees. But she didn't want to seem completely anti-social. It wasn't always in her nature to remain silent. She was just lost in her thoughts, which was common for alchemists of any rank.

Issac was in his own little world for a while. He heard what the others had to say, or not say, on the subject of the man in black, which didn't help him at all. There was something in the back of his mind that told him Darna may have noticed, not seen of course, but he didn't want to bother her. And so he slipped into his mind, somewhere far away, and thought things over. It had been assured that joining the military was going to change his life, but he had not thought it would happen so suddenly. It was as if someone had planned all this out for them, which he didn't like.

Long ago, Issac has decided that, if there was a god, or gods out there, they were rather heartless. Growing up with a father who was a doctor he had seen his fair share of life and death before he was even of age, and it had hardened him somewhat on the inside. When he discovered alchemy, and the seeming miracles one could preform with it, he began to wonder if maybe a human could become a god, but after his father had died and he had been foolish enough to preform human transmutation, he could have sworn he had heard god laughing at him on the other side of the Gate of Truth.

The train coming to a slow stop rattled him enough to bring his mind back from whence it had gone. Looking around he found that Darna was already up and on her way out, which didn't suprise him much. Standing he crossed over to where she had been and made sure she had her things, especially his father's cane, and ocne this was done he looked to the others.

"I think I'll go ahead and make sure she doesn't get lost." He says quietly, "I know she's probably fine, but I guess I'm a little paranoid when it comes to blind people..."

Turning, he slowly begins to follow her. His paranoia was not groundless, one of the men his father had known when he was a child had been blind for years, since before Issac had been born, and one day, seemingly for no reason, he had walked out in front of a car. As he lay in the street, dying, he had told his father he didn't hear it coming, but he was also smiling. That had bothered him, and it still did today.

Riley looked at all of them, and slowly started to get some needed relaxing. Sleep could come later, but at least he could Relax. He noticed the plant next to him in a pot looked like it was dying a little. "Hmmm, guess someone forgot to water it" he noted. He went back to his journal, and started working on a piece of it. It had something to do with Alchemy. But of course, no one could read it because it was encoded. Riley was very careful with everything and anything. He noticed a bird come as they were aproching. "Here, im not going to drink this, so why don't you" he told it, giving it the Alcoholic drink he had been given earlier for no reason.

Riley looked back at his notebook. It had been around 4 years now....4 years since his parents were killed. Killed for his parents work, which now only Riley has. He could still remember their screams, their faces, their pain. He could remember everything. He remembered that day best, better then any other. That was the day his life changed. That was the day he swore to get revenge. And so he will...

"I think I'll go ahead and make sure she doesn't get lost." Issac said quietly, "I know she's probably fine, but I guess I'm a little paranoid when it comes to blind people..." Riley looked at him and said "Well from what i can tell, she neither wants it or needs it. And from what it looks like, she thinks both".

As Riley got out of the train, he looked back to make sure he had everything. All that was left is a very sick plant, a dead bird, and a half full cup of.... Riley then realized something. The plant had been fine when they got on, and the bird was only in there for 5 minuets. "Well, thats a good reason to not drink right there" he noted. He took out a map to see where he had to go next.

Darna heard them all exit the car and grin on one side of her mouth. They were close and she couldn't hide the happiness she felt very much longer. Sticking a hand in her pocket, Darna flicked her hair over her shoulder and gave her sunglasses one last push up the bridge of her nose.

"It's just a few minutes walk up the road and through town to Taven's. We can talk about everything there and not worry about prying ears." Turning on her booted heel, Darna started walking, a little skip in her step, down the steps. Four steps down, a sharp left turn and a straight path into the village with no name. It was a self contained place where everyone just liked everyone. It was very different from the home she'd grown up in. Of course, people bickered about this and that, but it was never meaningful enough to shatter the camaraderie felt through the doors of every home, shop, and business within.

They would pass a few small fields of hay, and then the forests would start up. Giant trees housing ancient memories of the worlds and people thousands of years before them. Darna kept her head down, trying to picture what it could all really look like. In her mind were childish drawings of blue skies, a yellow sun, some hand drawn trees and a fence that wasn't as straight as it most likely was. She knew the landscape from people telling her, from Taven teaching her, and from feeling most everything around her. The road still felt the same, but it had only been a few months since she'd last been here. A few months too long, where Darna was concerned.

The buildings were small like cottages, and between each one were trees trying to grow up or already grown to their potential. The Colonel smile softly to herself, her veil of hair hiding most of the expressions on her face. She didn't need to look up. The woman knew that in just a few seconds, Lora, the town busybody, would come barreling out of her bread shop.

"DARNA?!" She'd underestimated the woman. Of course she would make it earlier than expected. The large bosomed woman took Darna up in a tight hug, almost breaking her sunglasses.

"Taven has been talking non-stop about you the last couple of days!" She spoke quickly, with a small voice even for such a large body. "I had to throw a loaf pan at him to get him to shut up the other day! All he talks about is 'Darn this' and 'Darna that'! Ugh!" She had a jovial tone that meant she was simply teasing and Darna finally got up the strength to pat her on the shoulder. With that, she released her, allowing the younger woman to breath. Lora pushed past Darna to introduce herself to the rest of the group.

"I'm Lora! I own the bread shop here! Finest bread in Amestris, every one tells me! You should come in and have a piece!"

"Lora," Darna interrupted, finding the pudgy wrist and squeezing it gently. "We actually can't stay for very long. I need to speak with Taven and we all just need some rest. It's been a long day." Her voice was gentle, like nothing anyone would hear from her normally. Lora was family, if not by blood than by trust, and Darna would never do anything to hurt the woman. With a sigh, but a pat on Darna's hand, Lora conceded.

"I understand. It must be military business, Miss State Alchemist." She giggled and hugged Darna one last time. "Last I knew, the old codger was fixing up that little garden of his. He just left Xavier's place with some fertilizer a few minutes ago." Thanking her with a gentle smile, Darna turned and continued on her trek to her guardian's home. The closer they got, the faster Darna's feet carried her. To outsiders, it was a wonder she was blind. All Darna could see was blackness, but she could feel the warmth of him. The trees were so thick, only a few columns of light were falling through the canopy.

"Taven?" She called out. Her boots hit the rock path she'd anticipated and she stopped. If he had an herb garden, it was new, and she was unsure of where it was. Standing quite still for sometime, she tried to hear something other than the group's breathing behind her. "Taven!"

"Hey," his voice was right beside her and she turned to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck quickly. He still smelled like a father. All dirt, musty, and a little bit of something homely.

"Well!" He laughed patting her back. "I missed you too!" It was strange for Darna to greet him thus, but her thoughts and her memories had been many in the last few days that she couldn't help but try and seek solace where she had first received it. With another squeeze, Darna pulled away with a huge smile and turned.

"Taven, this is everyone. Everyone, introduce yourselves. I don't feel like it."

"Darna, didn't I teach you manners?" Taven asked with a bit of sternness in his voice.

"I always have manners. I introduced you. It's there burden to introduce themselves. I'm going inside." And with that, Darna made her way into the house at the end of the rock path. Taven stood with his hands in his jean's pocket, a toothy grin on his stubbly face. Darna would never know it, but he wasn't as old as most made him out to be. A man barely in his forties with long brown hair pulled back in a low, curling ponytail. Some would think him handsome in his age, but his personality was one you could only be friends with. In his eyes he was always hiding something. Sadness? Pity? One could never know and Taven would die before Darna would.

"Well, I suppose you all have come for something to eat? I have a small home, but I have plenty of places for you all to sleep if you plan to stay overnight." He moved to the side, a smile still on his face, a twinkle in his green eyes.

It was easy enough to catch up with Darna, she had been waiting for them near the stations exit. Although she couldn't see it he gave her a little smile and let her know he was there, then waited patiently with her for the others. He couldn't help but notice the excitment in her, she seemed even more herself, as if she really wasn't blind at all, especially in the way she lead them away from the station and towards the village. Looking around, he wished he could live in a place like this, so calm and peaceful, but he doubted he ever would. Issac Cain had decided that his fate was to die far from home, and probably within the next ten years.

As fields gave way to an ancient forest he closed his eyes, following for a time by his sense of hearing alone. Leaves, earth, sap, a few loose stones here and there, animals scurrying about, he took it all in, all the way up until the forest gave way to the town without a name, or if it did have one he didn't know it.

The village seemed to be even more peaceful than the forest had been, if that was possible. They had not gotten far, however, when a larger woman with a light voice came out to embrace Darna. The two spoke fondly for a short time, then Darna excused herself and the others and they made their way on. It wasn't until the woman had mentioned bread that Issac realized how hungry he was, but he had resisted the urge to take a detour by her shop, in the hopes that Taven would have something for them.

"She's like a little girl, isn't she?" Issac said quietly, asking no one in particular, as they met Taven.

From what he could tell, Taven was a kind man, and although he was not as old as expected, one look in his eyes and Issac could tell that the man had seen far too much in his lifetime. Things you could never forget. But, just the same, they light up like a christmas tree when he saw his little girl again, even if she had brought a gang of friends with her, and it was mostly because of business she'd come by.

Watching Darna, and grinning all the while, he listened as they spoke of manners and introductions. Although he certainly didn't want to get off on the wrong foot with this man, he was welcoming them into his home, and so he felt it would be more proper to introduce himself inside. His only concern was shaking the man's hand. Would he be able to tell his hands were automail? Would it matter?

Riley began to leave the town. It was a rather nice town, some old parts, some new. He had been there before, on multiple occasions. He began noticing 3 things. One was that the state alchemists went a different direction, in which seemed to head into the forest, but in a different direction. This meant they didn't recognize him, so that was good. The second was that the mood in the town was slightly different. Usually, it is very active and plenty of traffic. The noise was still there, just less people. But today, there was little traffic, and it was easy to move through the town. Third finally, he noticed he was being watched....and followed....

He began walking down a separate path. As his follower followed, he began to hasten his pace. Whoever it was, he must have been following from before. Only to soon see something else. There was another one. Once he was clear of the town, Riley froze in his tracks. "Well well well" Riley said, taking out his sword, and uncovering the Transmutation circles. He looked at the follower. "Your not getting that Philosophers stone" he told him, his sword becoming on fire. He sent out several attacks at the attacker. He threw a explosive of some kind and quickly got cover. It exploded, causing some trees to fall and created a bit of noise.

He looked his attacker in the eyes. "Your not getting that stone!" he shouted.

Taven laughed and patted Vincent on the shoulder.

"Quite alright, fellow. It seems the Brigadier General Meraine had a little too much too drink." Taven gave her a quick once over and nodded. "I have just the thing to bring her around a little bit." With a wave of his hand, he began walking into the little cottage.

The inside was fresh and clean, almost like someone had taken a toothbrush to the little cracks and crevices. Taven was an immaculate man. And if one ever cared to noticed, they would see all that had been passed on to Darna as well. There was a small table with four chairs surrounding it in the middle of the rather spacious kitchen and in one, Darna sat smoking a cigar much too big and drinking a tall glass of lager. There was a strange look of sublimity on her lips. She had since taken off her sunglasses and her head was laid far back so her long hair was brushing the wood floor.

"Taven, I miss your cigars." She spoke with a drawl. The man chuckled and walked passed her, forcing her to lift her head up with his hand.

"You've smoked all the ones I sent home with you?" Her reached into an ice box and pulled out a few items. While he and Darna spoke, Taven was busying himself over the ingredients and a glass.

"I can't help it you put some kind of addictive substance in your tobacco! They taste so good." She took another heavy draw and let the smoke curl and twist out of her mouth and nose around her face. Her eyes, as white as the clouds in the sky, were lifeless and unblinking as it coiled around the crown of her head and slowly up toward the ceiling. Taven just shook his head and turned around.

"You can set the young lady anywhere, Vincent." He placed the glass on the table. It was filled with a small amount of vodka, one cracked egg, some salt, pepper, hot pepper sauce, and some milk.

"Aw gross!" Darna hissed and pushed her chair back. "Who's that for?"

"The Brigadier General here needs a little pick me up." Taven straightened back up after placing it on the table top and turned toward the boy he had yet to be introduced to. "I know of Commander Mark, and the General. I do have many friends beyond these walls. But I'm not sure I know who you are." He paused and his smile widened. "And I can tell that Darna has taken quite a liking to you." The glass of lager was in the air so quickly, no normal person would have seen it, but Taven had expected this kind of reaction and so caught it before it could break all over his nice clean walls. Instead of saying anything to Darna, he just waited for the young man to answer. Darna sat in her chair mumbling and smoked her cigar a little more heavily.

As soon as they had entered the house Issac couldn't help but look around. It was an actual home, something he hadn't seen in a long time, and during his travels was rarely invited into for any period of time. If he were lucky, he would be allowed to sleep in the barn and come in just long enough to eat. People, in his opinion, still didn't like the military or their alchemists, and the liked a wandering alchemist even less than that. Which was really saying something.

The scent of the cigar hit his nose and for a moment he wasn't sure it was coming from, and thought that maybe it was just the air in the room, that prehaps Taven was a heavy smoker. But when he saw it was Darna, it didn't suprise him much. She had spoke of needing a stiff drink many times since they had met, and cigars or cigarettes seemed to go alone with that sort of thing. And so he simply smiled, glad to see she seemed genuinely happy for the moment. And so he listened to the two of them in silence, not wanting to interupt, and watching to see what she was like outside of work, because really, this had nothing at all to do with work, and was but a simple pleasure for the woman.

Vodka, egg, salt, pepper, hot sauce, milk. I know who that's for. Issac thought, and laughed a little to himself as Taven mixed the ingrediants together, and sure enough he spoke what Issac had thought. "My dad used to call those a prarie oyster, or something like that," he mutters, remembering his father giving that to the men who came in drunk from a fight in the local bar, along with apsrin.

And then Taven was speaking to him. "I know of Commander Mark, and the General. I do have many friends beyond these walls. But I'm not sure I know who you are." He paused and his smile widened. "And I can tell that Darna has taken quite a liking to you."

When the glass came flying, Issac began to raise his arm, either to block it or catch it he wasn't sure, but as the older man caught it he breathed a sigh of relief. Had Issac actually even attempted to to anything to the glass, it would have shattered as it hit his metal hands. But once that was over, he could help but smile and shake his head.

"I'm sorry, I had meant to introduce myself before now, but I didn't want to interupt." He says, looking from Darna to Taven, "My name is Issac Cain, I just became a state alchemist the day before yesterday, and, honestly, I have no idea what my ranking is aside from that." Before he can think about it, his hand is out for the man to shake, and old habit he has long tried to break himself from. "It's very nice to meet you Taven, Darna has spoken very often about you. All good things though."

Darna stood up quickly when Taven took Isaac's proffered hand. She knew what he would be learning right about now. At first, Taven wouldn't assume what she already knew, but he would deduce the reasons for the young man's automail hands sooner or later. Taven asked questions. He liked hearing answers.

"Well, well," he said out loud, patting Isaac's hand curiously. "Automail. It's been a while since I've seen some good metal work. I haven't left this village much since Darna came along."

"You brought me along," she muttered, making her way toward the ice box. Opening it, Darna began reaching for food and broths and placing them carefully, one by one on the counter tops. She was going to get started with the food, even if Taven was going to be too busy socializing to help her out. Talking to him alone would have to wait until later.

Taven was chuckling at her and let go of Isaac's hand only to pat his shoulder. "I would ask how you came across those hands of yours, but that would be impolite for a first conversation." Pausing he nodded, making the decision to go ahead and help Darna cook dinner. "I may, however, ask you tonight after a full belly." He turned and began to help out making a hearty, beefy stew. Taven and Darna didn't speak much to each other as they cooked, but they constantly touched hands. Taven was always brushing against her, letting her know he was near. It was almost like they could speak through their skin instead of their lips. At one point, Darna linked her arm around his and rested her head on his elbow. She never had headaches when she was home. It was blissful and completely pain free around their home.

Taven turned around, a gentle smile on his face. "Help yourselves to anything in the house. You can walk about outside if you like. I have clearly marked paths through the forest for hiking. I think we'll have dinner ready in an hour or so."

As Taven took his hand and began to shake it, Issac winced inwardly. There were many way for a man to end up with automail, although most of those ways were somehow tied into the military, and he had already announced he had only recently joined. But as the older man simply smiled, and said that he wouldn't ask now, but later would like to hear the younger man's tale, Issac smiled back.

Just as he was about to tell Taven he would be glad to tell him later if that's what he still wanted once they had eaten, he happened to glance over at Vincent and Blythe. Vincent had set the woman down and was making his way into the living room, or what he guessed was the living room, and Blythe was looking the drink over. His first reaction would have been to wince at the scent the concoction must hold, but she seemed to actually enjoy it, and then the glass was to her lips, then empty. It was sort of amazing, but before he could say so she made some odd noise that might have been a misunderstood word, and was gone out the door.

"What did she say?" Issac asks curiously, actually scratching his head as he turns back to Taven and Darna. All he can do is smile as he watches them work. She really just seemed like a little kid around this guy, which was very different from the other day, when she had snapped at him for only helping her. Thinking about that, he laughs a little, then shakes his head. "Alright then, I'll talk to you after we eat Taven, and again, thank you for inviting me into your home." he says happily, then, nodding to her despite the fact that he knows she can't see it, and wouldn't notice it if she could, "Darna. I think I'll step outside as well. And I'll take my cane back if that's alright. I can tell you need no assistance here."

With his cane in one hand he takes it and, holding it before him, both hands at the top, he transmutes it back to its regular state and shape, then smiles a little as he turns and heads outside, holding it in his right hand once more.

Taven watched quietly as Darna peacefully handed the cane over.

"And what happened to yours?" He inquired as he dumped the sliced meat into the pot of boiling broth. Darna shrugged and felt around for a knife and the nearest onion. She began slowly cutting the onion, the scent tingling at her nose and making her lifeless eyes water.

"Some idiot caused a scene back at headquarters. I lost it in the scuffle." It was the truth, really. He just didn't need to know all of it.

"Darna." He'd stopped working and she could feel a cold gaze on her face. "You never lose your cane." Darna shrugged again, wiped the tears from her eyes and acted like he'd said nothing. The silence was deafening, however. His gaze felt colder and colder the longer she ignored. Her stomach started to churn and she sighed, throwing the knife into the sink.

"Look. I think a chimera got into the building. One of the men got hurt, Isaac helped him, in turn hurting himself and I left my cane at the sight. I was trying to get him to safety." The icy atmosphere that had been encompassing them both dissipated and she would have rolled her eyes like a stalwart teenager.

"You're insufferable." She muttered and walked around him to the pot to stir the contents. Taven began finishing what she'd started.

"You were blinded, weren't you?"

"That's a stupid question." He sighed and stopped his work.

"Stop being a child, Darna. You're twenty-seven. Act like it."

"Stop acting like such a father and maybe I will." Instantly, she regretted the words and the stirring grew slow and regretful. "I didn't mean that, I'm sorry."

"No, that's alright. I'm not your father." He stopped and dumped the onion into the pot. "But you know I love you like one." He added in a whisper. Walking away he spoke louder. "I'll get you a new one." Darna put the ladle down and sat at the kitchen table. She'd have to tell him more, perhaps she would now? He returned and put the cane in her hands.

"It isn't finished, but I can have it done before--"

"Do you think that baby came back alive?" Taven froze where he stood, looking down at Darna with wide eyes. She continued on, "I mean... I saw something at the train station today. It wasn't a chimera but it definitely wasn't human." She gripped the cane hard and shook her head. "I know what the Elric brothers brought back. I know that others have seen whatever they've transmuted come back for them. Taven..." Pausing Darna rested her head on the top of the cane. "I have to know if that baby would have come back. It was a baby... barely a few weeks old. I mean... would the Gate let something like that back through?" Taven had by now sat down across from her and was staring at her in disbelief and confusion. What did someone say to something like that? Taven was a man who told the truth, and he didn't plan on stopping now.

"It is most likely that child returned in the monster you heard. There is no telling what you created, but whatever it was, I can't tell you if it is that baby, or if it will return to you." His hand gripped her's through her mane of white hair and he squeezed it gently. "That's what has been bothering you this whole time?"

"Yeah." Lifting her head up she had a half-hearted smile across her lips. The dark feeling inside her wasn't quelled, however. Taven didn't always have the answers but he tried and that meant a lot.

"Let me get you a stiff drink." He offered and she nodded in compliance.

Ah, real fresh air. Issac says once the door has closed behind him, seperating him from the others inside the small house. It's been, what, a month at least since I've breahed such fresh air? Since before I started on my journey to Central anyway. The night was clear and cool, not yet chilly, but autumn was in the air none the less, making its presence known to all. This place will be nothing but golds and oranges and red...I wish I could see it...

Walking through the trees, his father's cane once again in hand, making a soft thump with every step, he comes to realize that something very big is in the works, and that he will undoubtably be a part of it. Too much has happnened in the past days to convince him otherwise. The only real problem he has is that he doesn't know if he will be able to learn what happened to his father before his time comes to an end, because he doesn't believe he could face such demons, those human chimera, on his own, especially when he thinks that something had to have created him and will have to be dealt with as well.

"Stop it Issac, you're thinking too much again..." he says quietly to himself, reaching out as he passes and ancient oak, allowing his cold metal fingertips to brush against the bark every so softly. "You aren't alone now. You have the others...Darna, Vincent, Blythe...hell, maybe even that little kid from the train. Sure, they're all odd...but so are you."

Stopping as he comes across a tall popular tree he places his back against it and slides down. Once he is sitting at the bottom he takes his messenger bag off and lays it aside, wondering why he didn't leave it bahind at Taven's.

"I should make something for a center piece, for the meal tonight..." Issac thinks aloud, slowly slipping the long white gloves from his hands and stuffing them into the bag. "No reason to hide them here. Now, where is it...ahah!"

Taking out a pad of paper and a charcoal pencil he begins to draw a rather detailed transmutation circle. In it he incorporates several elements, many unique symbols designed for, well, designs, and when he is finished a few moments later, it looks a bit like a cryptic page from an ancient alchemy book, as the entire page has nearly been covered in charcoal. smiling to himself, he places the pencil back in his bag, lays the sheet of paper on the ground, then leans over it, closes his eyes, and presses his hands to it on either side.

With curiosity was it that Blythe regarded the strange flower that resided before her, or at least that’s what she assumed it to be based on the presence of both pistol and stamen. From a long, vascular stock it extended, surrounded by a sea of green, unremarkable leaves and their likewise unremarkable flowers of a dull pink. The intensity of its crimson, almost bell like petals, the soft glow it seemed to emanate, the slight trim of golden that covered its tip, the strange pattern it strewn along its stems side by side; all of it had caught her attention as she walked.

Perhaps pranced would be a better word, though seeing as how Blythe had actually been in the field of flowers for the express purpose of seeing whether any of the plants possessed any interesting skin effecting properties it seems a bit difficult to attach that particular word to the action. The fact still stood that she was skipping through a field of flowers, humming merrily when she caught sight of the lone flower.

Being the ever curious botanist that she was, it came as little surprise that she just so happened to quite literally throw her bag at the ground and plop down in the field right then and there. What did come as a bit of a surprise however was the not incredibly pleasant sound of glass fracturing that resonated moments after the bag made contact. For all the times the woman had physically abused that poor, poor bag with chairs, fire, water, anything and everything with absolutely no effect on its contents, it seemed almost impossible to think a relatively mild chuck into the ground would actually damage what was inside. Karma could always be attributed to the happening rather easily…even if Blythe’s total disregard for what easily could be a poisonous substance leaking through her bag in favor of a flower made it a tad wee awkward to claim it as negative retribution.

Blythe was just the type to not much care for anything other than her subject when “in the mood” and she’d surely be feeling a great deal of remorse over her injured bag as soon as she finished with her work. Whenever that may be. As the saying goes, you can’t rush perfection!…Not that Blythe was in any way shape, nor form the model human, far from it probably, just that when it came to her line of work, that being primarily the creation and application of toxins, precision was sort of a necessity. Then again, wasn’t anything pertaining to alchemy a precise science by definition anyways?

So it was that Blythe came to find herself glowering at the strange flora, apparently hoping a deep enough stare would reveal some hidden truth to it’s external appearance she hadn’t yet reached. But, seeing as she’d been at it for half an hour already and her mind didn’t necessarily have to actually be on the flower’s appearance for it to be permanently burned into her retinas, she decided to occupy her time with thoughts of her current situation.

Primarily on what it was every one else must have been up to. Darna’s current activity seemed almost too easy to guess, she was chatting it up with Taiven and working on what she could only hope to be delicious food. Issac’s current preoccupation was a bit of a challenge, seeing as how she didn’t much know the kid and he seemed a bit more…deep to her than he let on, but she reached the conclusion that he’d probably gone for a walk like she had. The slight trampling of foliage she’d heard a while back and spotting a similar appearing man out of the corner of her eye earlier had absolutely no relation to her guess either. For Vincent, well her only guess would be that he was probably smoking as of the moment, even after all the years she’d known him, not to mention all the files of his she’d used as reading material in her boredom, Blythe still found the blonde to be a mystery. As for what the random kid, who she noted never exactly introduced himself, was up to, well to be honest she somewhat assumed he’d found himself another confrontation. Based on all the various little assassination attempts she’d been able to catch sight of, and decided to let run their course instead of intercepting for the sake of amusement, on the train, the kid seemed to have someone out for him.

Most definitely the same someone who’d taken it upon themselves to blow up an entire train for one kid…oh how glad Blythe was to not be in central right now, she could only imagine the paperwork her poor lieutenant was currently leafing through after that incident. While her mind wafted to the topic of her beloved, and often sexually harassed, lieutenant, an evil idea found it’s way to Blythe. She had neither the correct tools, nor the patience to test the flower before her in its entirety as of present. Her lieutenant, however, did. So, seeing as how it was only the kind, thoughtful thing to do and the flower obviously had to have some sort of interesting chemical property to be glowing, she’d just send it back to her dear, dear lieutenant via mail!…Though now that raised the question of whether or not this town had a mail center…if not, surely their actual destination would at least. Hopefully. If not, she’d have to see whether or not Vincent had the capacity to order a bird around as he did people, it always seemed he should be able to, to her, he’d just probably never tried.

With a final taste test, Darna nodded and Taven smiled. He had already set out bowls and spoons. Chairs had been fished out of storage and extra rooms and sat around the round table for them all to sit and eat at. As he moved the hot pot from stove to table, Darna grabbed the loaf of bread and placed it somewhere in the middle of the table.

"Come and get it!" Taven yelled out the back door where both Blythe and Isaac had gone off. Looking over his shoulder at the Puppeteer Alchemist he grinned. "Hope your hungry." Walking back toward the kitchen, Darna was already sitting, but actually showing some politeness and waiting for everyone to show up as well. Taven busied himself with getting glasses and a jug of chilled water. The harder drinks would be saved for later. Darna, however, had had three glasses of scotch whiskey and her cheeks were starting to grow pink. He knew she'd had a few drinks on the train ride here, so she was beginning to reach her limit. Taven would have to make sure she didn't get out of hand.

"Stop staring." Taven laughed, setting cups in front of bowls. She was a beautiful person, though distant and scared most of the time. It made his heart heavy to know his intentions with her at first were unethical and selfish. She'd been so tortured and rejected, and all Taven had wanted to do was make her life a science experiment. Darna was better than that and he should have left her alone.

Sighing, he sat across from her, his finger steeped and his chin resting on the tips. Darna was the light of his life. The scientist was just very upset that he hadn't seen that in the first few years of their now unbreakable bond. Something was eating at her; something dark. Taven knew he'd have to do something to help her. She could never know about it, though. How would he get away with it? He'd taught Darna so well, that even he couldn't get passed her any longer.

"There...that should do it..." Issac says, running a hand over the sculpture he'd just created, making sure all mof the details could not only be see, but felt as well. No use in crafting a centerpiece for them all if not all of them could see it right? As he turns it over in his hands his stomach begins to growl hungrily, telling him it must be time to head back and that the food should be done by now. "Well, now all I have to do is keep from droping this thing..."

Setting the sculpture down on the path, the young man gracefully gets to his feet without having to use his hands. It was an old trick, something he'd learned shortly after the incident, before he had gained his automail, and then ever after as he was still learning how to function with arms once more. Once on his feet he slings his messenger bag over his shoulder and takes up the sculpture, hoping that at least Taven likes it, seeing as how it will be staying with him once they are gone. No sense in lugging it around.

"And it's all diamond too...hope the others don't get mad at me for that. I know you're not supposed to use alchemy to make gold, or for purely selfish gain..." He mutters to himself, contemplating on telling the others it's just glass, or clear crystal maybe. "It's not like I'm going to sell it or anything, and I don't think Taven would either. But, of course...I don't know this man very well, do I?"

Still, even after being invited, and even wlecomed into his home, offered a meal and a place to stay for the night, Issac was having a hard time trusting this man. Not because he seemed like a bad person, but because he seemed like such a good one. In his past, those who acted kindly too him often wanted something. Too often had he been invited into a home only to be asked to turn something useless into something valuable, and subsequently kicked out afer he would refuse to do so.

"Come and get it!" That was Taven's voice. So, Issac's stomach had been right after all, and it was indeed time to eat.

"Coming!" He calls back, not being able to help but smile, but then to frown only a moment later. "Father...dad always used to call me in like that as well when I was playing out in the woods..."

Letting it go, Issac soon reaches the back door, or was it the side door? He couldn't remember, but a moment after reaching it he made his way through, and back into the kitchen. With only a smile for Taven, and another going unseen to Darna, he walks over and sets his sculpture down on the table, making a dull thud as it comes to rest at the center.

"It isn't much, but I thought I could give you this, as thanks for tonight." Issac says, gesturing to the statue as he looks to Taven. "I used alchemy, mostly, but...it's, um...made of diamond..." Laughing, a little nervous about it, he looks back at the statue. Standing up on its hind legs on the table, front legs kicking into the air before it, is a diamond pegasus statue, made with such detail that each feather on the wings can be seen, and felt.

Taven was the first to say anything about the statue, seeing as Darna couldn't particularly lay her eyes on it. With his big, worn out hands, Taven turned it around and around, grinning at the glistening stone and clarity it had.

"Perfect alchemy, Isaac. It's very beautiful." He set it back down gently, knowing by Darna's posture that she was more than a little perturbed by the whole thing. Taven would have liked to take credit for knowing her so well, but she was a woman who wore her heart on her sleeve. Anyone could see how she was feeling. The older man moved to go out and make sure everyone had heard him, leaving Isaac and Darna at the table.

Darna held her body taught, crossing her arms over her chest and scowling in no particular direction. In order to break the tension welling up in her stomach, Darna had to think of something to take her mind of the series of dark thoughts swirling about in her head.

"Diamond? Really?" Pursing her lips out she shook her head. "If I weren't in Taven's home, I'd knock you senseless with your idiotic statue!" A tinge of regret flew through her. The Colonel had a way of saying harsh things, but she wasn't one to apologize. Just keep going. Muddle through, like always.

"Just..." She started and uncurled her arms, resting her hands on her knees. "Don't do it again, okay? You'll get arrested by anyone else." Reaching her hand out she tried to find the water. Her muscles were thick with anxiety and her eyebrows were furrowed constantly. Taven hadn't eased her mind about anything, and Darna felt stupid for thinking he could. It had just made sense. He knew about chimera, alchemy and all its principles... In fact, he may have known more about alchemy than Darna did and she'd seen the gate. Taven was the answer to everything. But he couldn't help her this time. It made her angry, self-conscious, and horribly sober.

It had been a few seconds and she still hadn't found the water jug. Growling she scoffed and slammed her palms on the table top.

"Could you please hand me the water?" She spoke as if Isaac should have done it ages ago. It was obvious that people were unsure of whether or not to help her. Darna didn't want help all the time, but give her a break, the woman was blind! Anyone with that kind of handicap would own up to it.