with the river's flow (open)

[unerasable]

Characters: Alphonse and whoever!
Content: This place just took in an alchemist, and it's a lot to take in.
Location: The fountain in Traverse Town, Fourth District
Time: Morning-ish
Warnings: None for now!

[At some point early in the day, there's a sudden crackling burst of blue light - and then, without further fanfare, a large key nestled in a hollow in the cobblestones that wasn't there a minute ago.

It's perfectly formed; the only giveaway that he didn't just find this thing is a couple of very, very tiny rectangular cracks along the side, and that's if you know what you're looking for. Still, that doesn't stop the nearby kid in the red duster from looking a shade disappointed as he picks it up. Sure, it's about the right size to fit the keyhole he remembers, but what's he going to do with it, stick it under his head the next time he takes a nap and hope that if he happens to dream the same thing again he'll be lucid enough to carry it in with him? Geez. He'd been hoping he was done with dreams like these.

Then again, the way that bat-winged cat thing had put it, maybe it won't be too much longer. He has to get his bearings first, though, and he won't make much progress there if he just sits by the water for the rest of the day. He can practically hear that in his brother's voice already, even awake.]

...I think we've both got a lot to get used to.

[The Meow Wow beside him tilts its head sympathetically.

Then, without warning, it springs up and snatches the key out of his gloved hand.]

H-Hey! [Al scrambles to his feet so quickly he almost trips on his own coat.] Look out - don't -

[He's too late. The Meow Wow collides head-on with whoever was in its path and bounces helplessly away, losing its grip on the key, which clatters some distance across the cobblestones.

Al hurries over to help it right itself before looking up.] Are you okay? I'm really sorry!

Comments

[buymedumplings]

[Bolin is thinking about his dreams as well. He hadn't been getting a lot of sleep lately which probably explained a lot. Still, he tries to remain his usual chipper self and was taking a walk with one of his newly made Spirits: an Escarglow he'd named Ganseki. The snail-like spirit moves along at a decent pace though and the only other Spirit with Bolin at the moment was Chi the Tama Sheep.

Bolin yawns.]

Maybe we should go work on some routines for another performance, though I need to be at Rarity's shop later today.

[A nap sounded like a good idea too. However, all those plans were derailed when suddenly a Meow Wow came barreling towards them. Chi jumps in the way of it and both Spirits went flying in the crash.]

What? Chi!

[The sheep rolls back onto her feet easily enough and bleats in irritation. Bolin looks from his Spirit to the guy in the red jacket. He didn't recognize him which probably meant he was new.]

We're fine. Uh, is your Meow Wow okay, what was he running from like that?

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Meow Wow... Oh, right. [Al smiles at the stranger, sheepish but relieved, as he picks himself up.] He probably just wanted to play. I'll try to keep a better eye on him from now on.

[Not that he needs to right at this minute - the Meow Wow, once back on its own feet, immediately ambled back over to where the key landed, and is now preoccupied with nudging it along the ground in the direction of what it can only assume are new friends.

The sheep next to the older-looking boy merits a look of friendly curiosity, though.]

Um, this is probably a weird question, but do you live here?

[buymedumplings]

No, it's fine, they can get a little excited especially when they're new or you haven't played with them in awhile.

[Speaking of, the overlarge snail now seems to be rubbing himself against Bolin's legs and...is he purring? Bolin supposes not all of them are quite as energetic as this Meow Wow. Bolin has to wonder why he's pushing that key around but looks back to answer the red coat kid's question first]

Uh, no, I mean...I stay in the hotel with my friend Asami, but I'm not actually living here because my home is back in Republic City.

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[When the Meow Wow is close enough, it picks the key up in its mouth again and tries to give the snail a playful poke in the side with one of the ends.

Al briefly glances down at it, since he did just say he'd have to be more careful, but doesn't look particularly bothered. He looks up again when the boy mentions a place name, though there's no spark of recognition in his eyes.] Republic City? [Just from the sound of it, there's some possibility it's somewhere in Amestris he hasn't heard of, but under the circumstances...

He rubs the side of his neck.] To tell you the truth, I just woke up here not long ago. I'm still trying to figure out what's going on.

[buymedumplings]

[Ganseki blinks and turns an eye-stalk to look at the cat, as if to ask it what it was doing. Bolin nods again, he wasn't exactly expecting the other guy to recognize it, but he could always hope.]

Ooooh, so you're new new. Got it. Well, I'm Bolin and this is Traverse Town. It's a little weird because of the whole dream thing, but it's not that bad once you get used to that and the Nightmares around here.

[unerasable]

[Al nods.] It's an interesting place, that's for sure. I don't think I've seen anywhere like it.

[At their feet, the Meow Wow decides to interpret Ganseki's response as encouragement, and tries to poke him again. It's a toy! What's not to get?!]

Oh, and I'm Alphonse. It's nice to meet you. [He pauses.] Are there... a lot of people like this?

[buymedumplings]

If you think this place is interesting you should check out the space ship. [Not that Bolin goes there much. Of course then he remembers why and flails a bit.] Actually, no, no don't go there. It's a bad place to be, especially if you're new! I mean...you should find a place to settle first and then explore or something, cause that's what most people do.

[He doesn't want to see this kid get hurt after all and the space ship was a VERY dangerous place.]

[Ganseki does not find this amusing and slips inside his shell. Either bored or annoyed, it's hard to say with a giant snail.]

Uhh, there's quite a few yeah, though not all of them stay here in Traverse Town. Some people are even from the same place but others are really weird.