Clash of F.A.T.E? [Alphonse]

[jayne]

J A Y N E

The daily routine. Walking to the library to have time to herself. She admitted, it was nice to get away from her sister. Although she cared much for her, it was strange how they had nothing in common for being relatives. Jayne sighed as she clutched her books to her chest, walking quickly. Glancing up, she checked if the road was clear before crossing fast, and it was in a matter of seconds that she arrived, stepping over a few people that had strangely taken their liking to read on the steps. Shaking her head with a smile, she entered through the doors.

"Morning Jayne." a fellow friend greeted her from behind the desk. Jayne nodded happily in reply. "Morning." She waved before calmly heading over to the section she stayed every morning. Physics. Slowing down her pace, she found her table (the one she sat at all the time anyway) before placing her books down, only to then turn and scan her eyes through the many thousands of books. What to choose!? She had no idea, but there was much to study and so much to learn about. She just couldn't wait to get started!

The books that lay on the table, she had read all those within a few days! Jayne was a very fast reader, and extremely intelligent at that to keep it all in her mind without losing it. It was then that her eyes picked up a certain book, unlike the others on the shelves. She winced to read it before simply stretching out an arm to clutch it. As soon as it was released from the shelf, she blew the dust away to read the cover. 'Extreme Physics; Volume 2'. Hm.. Where was volume 1? Jayne quickly skimmed through the pages before turning it over to read the blurb.

It seemed an extremely old book, and strangely, very strong in the terms and conditions it used. Before she finished reading, that familiar voice echoed, making her jump slightly. "The usual?" she turned before smiling at who it was. It was Teresa, the Librarian. "Yeah." Her voice sweet. She looked back to the book before back to the woman. "Do you know where Volume 1 may be?" she watched carefully as Teresa's expression changed. "Hm... Those are very rare.. but..." As Teresa turned, she followed, leaving her books behind, knowing they wouldn't go anywhere.

As they walked through the many shelves and rows of books, Jayne didn't lose her smile. Glancing to the many people with their heads in their books before watching Teresa stand by the desk again. Jayne stood, waiting for a moment as Teresa read something before hearing her voice again. "Luckily... we have one left. It's somewhere at the back of the shelf you were just looking through." the women smiled, and Jayne nodded. "Thank You." As she turned she heard Teresa again. "If you need any help getting it, just ask." Jayne walked before turning her head quickly. "Sure thing!"

Making her way back, she returned to where her books were. Turning back to the shelves, she began to search, glancing to the book she held before back to the shelves for a similar one. After a while, there was no success. Moving further down, it was then that she noticed the brown cover much like the one she was holding. With a smile, she moved toward it before reaching to grab it, her hand clenched on that familiar strange cover. She just couldn't wait to read it and see what he was like! If it was rare, then surely it would be a very excruciating read! It could have more answers inside than all of her books put together!

[Alphonse Elric]

The library, the one place in this whole city where there seemed to be at least some silence, after all, library’s were a place where most people went to study, or simply to read a book that they would not normally get the chance to read. Of course with most libraries you could always just loan the book for a couple of weeks, but most people would still prefer the silence within these walls, the atmosphere itself held a sort of warm feeling to it, it was sort of like being somewhere you belonged, after all, everyone inside the library was there for pretty much the same reasons, to read. Alphonse studied the book that lay on the table before him, his right hand propping up his head as he leaned forward slightly, turning the pages slowly. He liked to come here whenever he could get the chance, the silence was refreshing for one thing, and it also gave him an opportunity to leave the somewhat dingy flat that he shared with his brother.

It had been two years since they had left Amestris...two years, it seemed longer than that somehow, and although he had become quite used to the new and somewhat strange quirks of this world, there were still times when he could still become baffled by it. Who would have thought that people could create machines that could fly? Well it had certainly been a lot to take in when he had first arrived, but of course Edward had helped him through it, even if everything was confusing at times, he was glad that he could spend his time with his brother, finally, and he was determined that they would not be separated again, no matter what. Sighing deeply, Alphonse closed the book, finishing the last page with a smile, he stared at the title ‘The world of physics’ before he stood picking up the book before moving towards the stacks to place the book back. It was a subject that he had become quite fascinated by, not that he was even sure why if he was honest, it was only when his brother had decided that they should move to England, that his interest in the science had begun to peak.

Moving through the stacks he eventually found the place he had retrieved it from, the shelves stacked alphabetically, well, it did make it somewhat easier to find things, well most of the time anyway, some people would occasionally put the books back in the wrong place, whether this was through laziness or sheer confusion though was unknown. He glanced to the side as he saw someone walk past him, a young girl, he didn’t really get a good look at her, but he smiled all the same and placed the book back on the shelf before moving back somewhat staring at the selection. “Which one?” he said as he studied the shelf closely a thoughtful look on his face, honestly, there was very little that he hadn’t read, what with Edward working, he had to find something to pass the time when he was not at home, and reading was after all, something he enjoyed doing. It was then that he saw it, an old looking book, the pages slightly yellowed, dust covering it somewhat, it looked as though no one had touched it in a very long time. His curiosity heightened, Alphonse smiled, reaching out to grab the book.

[jayne]

J A Y N E

Her first reaction was to pull the book out and read it, but strangely, as she tightened her grip to pull it, it appeared to be caught on something. Jayne gave a confused expression before pulling again, but to no success, the book did not budge. "Huh?" That confused tone in her voice hit the silence. Using all strength she could, she gave the book another tug, but still, it didn't move. Now this is strange. Surely the book had nothing to keep it stuck and in place like that.. or maybe it was just the fact it was so old.. untouched..

It made her jump slightly as she felt force come from the opposite side. What on earth!? Jayne gasped before her first reaction was to pull harder, and she did, fast. Without being able to keep herself stable, she amazingly was sent flying backward, for whatever it was, had let the book loose quite quickly. In the time it took her to fall and impact to the floor quite hard, she managed to see a glimpse, someone was on the other side of the bookcase, and it all made sense now!

There was a loud thump from her impact, and a few worried gasps and screams as she hit the floor, letting go of all those research sheets that she held at the time. Jayne winced, eyes closed as she leaned forward, rubbing the back of her head. "..Ow.." It took a moment for her to recover before she opened her eyes, glancing to the book in her hand. It intrigued her as she studied the dusty cover, the old unusual appearance to it. Shaking herself from her thoughts, it had occurred to her, that someone else desired to look at it too!

She was just so startled about what had happened that she couldn't even move! She just stared blankly in shock at the shelves, only able to catch in the corner of her eye her sheets of research floating down to the floor. Catching her breath she calmed herself before lifting herself up from the ground, gathering her footing. It was then that she placed a hand on her head. "... No no no...." the sheets were all spread everywhere, and all mixed up! With a startled expression, she began to gather them all up.

All that research... All mixed... It would take her ages, even hours to restore them back in their rightful places from stages of the Physics! Jayne sighed as she leaned over to pick each one, checking it and neatening the pile as she did so. The poor girl was just so startled on loosing all of her sheets, that she had forgotten about the young lad that desired the same book!

[Alphonse Elric]

As Alphonse had grabbed the book he felt a force pulling at it, trying to take it from him, to be honest at first he was rather stunned, and simply kept his hand upon it, gripping it tightly but after feeling the book be jerked again he fought back, was it stuck on something? The struggled seemed to go on forever, and the more the book was tugged, the more confused he became, it hadn’t occurred to him that there was someone else with their hand upon it, as eager as he was to discover what was within the confines of its pages. “What the?” he said quietly, he didn’t even know what the book was about, and here he was, apparently struggling with the shelf to retrieve it, how strange this must have looked to any walking past the stacks.

Eventually he gave up releasing the book to the shelf, if it wanted it that badly he was inclined to let it keep it, it was then that he heard it, a rather loud crash, and some rather surprised screams before he peered through the newly made hole where the book had been, his eyes widening as he realised that there was a young girl on the other side of the shelf, laying on the floor, paperwork strewn about her..it was then that it hit him, the realisation that she too, must have been interested in the same book. Feeling an instant guilt for what had happened, he rushed around the shelf moving over to her swiftly, watching her pick up the papers from the floor, he sighed lightly before he kneeled down on the floor, looking to her for a moment, noticing the book. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know that you were trying to get that book....I thought it was stuck” he said, an embarrassed smile lighting his face.

His brown fringe past in front of his eye line as he attempted to be helpful, picking up some of the papers from the floor, the least he could do was help her pick up her paperwork, after all, it was his fault in the first place, perhaps if he had not let go of the book so abruptly, she might not have fallen, but then he’d had no idea that there was someone else on the other side, so he could be forgiven for that. His eyes glanced over a few words on the pages he handled as he tidied the few he held, gently tapping them on his knees to make them all sit in line with each other, he looked serious for a moment, before his eyes lit up somewhat....this was physics....yes he was sure this was physics, she was also interested in the science? How curious that a girl should like such a subject. “So....you like physics..” he said making conversation with her, well, it was always polite to talk to someone, especially in this case.

[jayne]

J A Y N E

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know that you were trying to get that book....I thought it was stuck” It made her jump. Glancing upward she stood, watching the young boy, holding the few sheets that she had in her hands. She gave a small smile back in response. "It's okay." giving a sign of reassurance. She knew he didn't mean it and truthfully, she didn't mind, it was just a mere accident of curiosity between them both. They both were interested in the same book, and it was not intended in anyway, so, no harm done! By this time Jayne returned instantly to gathering the few sheets that remained, watching the other boy out of the corner of her eye, noticing him read the sheets out of interest. She smiled to it. “So....you like physics..”

She stopped in her tracks before gathering the last of the sheets that were on the floor. Standing up, she tucked her hair behind her ear to reveal her bright blue eyes. Lowering her eyes slightly before glancing back to him with a sweet smile. "... Er.. Yeah..." Was it strange that a girl liked Physics? ... It was... wasn't it? Jayne sighed before walking over to the boy with her smile. "... Rather silly... isn't it.." she frowned. ".. a girl having an interest in Physics and such..?" Her voice becoming quite embarrassed. "Well.. Anyway.. I am sorry... I mean about the book and all.." She blushed before remembering the book. Turning around quickly, she glanced to the floor before leaning and picking it up.

She smiled as she looked to it's dusty cover, a flush of guilt as well as kindness flowing through her. Turning back to the boy, she offered the book to him. "Here." she insisted. "You seem to need it more than me." It looked as though he did, and she didn't mind. Surely he had much better purpose for it than her. After all, what would a girl want with a book of science anyway? Besides, she would be more than happy to wait to reserve it another time. As she offered the book, she studied the boy. He seemed at her age, his hair being a nice appeal of brown, his eyes almost matching. He seemed nice, gentle in a way, just by reading his eyes she could tell.

Wait, what!? Shaking herself from her thoughts she blushed. What a time to be thinking about boys! In a library! Now THAT was embarrassing. Great going Jayne!

[Alphonse Elric]

"It's okay." he smiled to those words, well, at least he knew that she wasn’t sore at him for causing her to lose her paperwork like that, and he was thankful for it. He didn’t have many friends in this world, if he was honest, the only person he ever really spoke to was his brother, and even he could sometimes be hard to strike up a conversation with, especially of late. Alphonse wasn’t sure why, but Edward seemed to be avoiding him a lot, which was something that was hard to do, considering they both lived in the same flat, he would just come home from work, say his brief hello’s before disappearing into his room, what was he doing in there anyway besides sleeping? He did venture out occasionally, but he said very little, and it was beginning to worry Alphonse greatly.

He stood as she walked over, handing her back her paperwork, a bright smile on his lips, it really was funny how she was into the science of Physics as well, it was unusual, for a woman, but then, she seemed pretty unusual anyway. "... Er...yeah...rather silly... isn't it... a girl having an interest in Physics and such..?" Alphonse shook his head and brought his hands up waving them back and forth as he emphasised his thoughts on the matter. “No of course not, It’s not silly” he said reassuringly a slight flush of red moving over his cheeks. “I mean....I think people should just do whatever they enjoy, there’s nothing wrong with a girl liking science, I used to know a girl who was a mechanic so”. His grin widened somewhat, he hadn’t thought about Winry in a while, of course things back home were different, women generally did whatever they pleased, but here, it seemed society was different, and it was taboo for women to want to be anything other than a secretary or a housewife.

"Well.. Anyway.. I am sorry... I mean about the book and all.." why was she sorry? It had been him who had let go after all, and he still held a small amount of guilt over that, it had been an accident of course but still, that blush on his cheeks grew redder. As she held the book out to him he shook his head just a little, oh no, he couldn’t take it, but she seemed so insistant and with a light sigh he took it, his hand touching hers for a brief moment. He stared at her hand for a moment before he gazed into those blue eyes.....it took him a moment before he realised what he was doing and he coughed slightly, bringing the book to his chest as he smiled again. “Sorry.....thanks....” he said with a nod of his head. Why had he looked at her like that? Well....he was fourteen, an age where most boys started to notice girls...but still....it was a strange feeling.