Emperor Ling AU

Roy: I am ^gives a handsome disarming smile and has a seat^

Ed: .does NOT get flustered the ONLY resinhis cheeks are pink is bc is HOT. What can I get for you?

Roy: Your special if you would, I hear its superb

Ed: .beams. Coming right up! .goes to al. The special

Al: ^quickly in a hushed tone^ Ed, thats a minister of the emperor

ed: ^blinks, then blinks again slower^ What? why would he be here?

Al: I have no idea! We're not that good of a dumpling shop to warrant that attention!

Ed: .dark look. Then I doubt hes really here for food, let's get him on his way quickly

Al: ^nods^ yeah ^and quickly gets the dumplings done and hands them over to ed^

ed: ^puts best customer service face on while going to deliver, prettiest little smile^ here you are, sir. Please enjoy

Roy: ^looks to them then lifts eyes to ed^ you must be Edward, am I right?

ed: ^a little on guard^ ..I am, how do you know that ^arent the type to go spouting their names around tbh^

Roy: Word has it that a young man with metal limbs works at the best dumpling shop in the city, his name is Edward Elric

Ed: .v much like ur on thin ice mr. Can't deny the rumors .shrugs and WIGGLES clearly metal fingers.

Roy: ^cant help but be suprised but that is high tech^ So it is true

ed: yeah, truer than most rumors, but that still begs the question, why exactly are you here hunting down people with metal limbs

Roy: The emperor is requesting an audience with you, tonight if you could manage it, he has promised no ill intent and it will be private, no prying eyes

Ed: .crosses arms. What does he want with a dumpling server, it didn't make sense, can I even refuse .a little pricklybc knows he realistically cant. Where the hell did I have to go

Roy smiles handsomely and puls out a handkerchief. Carefully he unfolds it.

"Of course, I would escort you there safely," Roy answers as he places the dumplings into the handkerchief and ties it up. Finally, he stands and looks down at Ed.

"Now would be preferable so there is plenty of time to make it to the castle," Roy informs him.

Ed grits his teeth and glares up at Roy, many unsightly names rolling through his head as he turns and stomps back to Al, "Hey Al, can you hold down the fort? I gotta make sure the damn high and mighty don't fuck us over." He tossed his 'waiter' apron into the room before stomping back over to Roy, "Lets get this over with."

Roy: was looking at something on his wrist as Ed came out. It was shiny and bound with leather. Ed wasn’t sure but it also might have had a ticking sound to it. Roy lifted his head and smiled.

“I’m pleased to see you’re joining me. Please,” Roy gestured to the white tall horse. Despite the invitation for Ed to climb on the horse himself, Roy stepped closer and slid his hands under Ed’s arms. With ease, Mustang lifted Ed up so he sat easily on the horse.

Al: (sort of jumping in time a little cozigottagetthatedhorsereactionyo) Al frowned as Ed left wondering what he was going on about. Did he truly mean the emperor? It was possible that Ed was being sarcastic. Sarcastic or not, Al expected he likely wouldn’t be awake when Ed returned that night.

Al didn’t worry himself with it too much. It was Wednesday which was a slow day. Only a couple regulars came in. But really, there was no one in this town that Al didn’t know. One older gentleman that was constantly trying to beat Ed and Al at a game of Go came in too to play. The man lasted a little longer than usual, because Al was distracted.

Long after everyone was gone, Al had settled to read a book. It was evening time when someone else finally arrived. At first the loud banging made Al believe it was Ed. This made him drop the book and come out of the kitchen with a smile. However he saw someone else.

“Hey, you is this the place with them dumplings everyone’s talkin’ about?!” The man asked forcefully. Al was taken aback by his language and his looks. He looked like a farmer with his face covering, but the rest of him was casual and he wasn’t covered in dirt like a farmer. What more, Al didn’t recognize him. A traveler then?

“Well, this is a dumpling shop—” Al began to explain. The man practically jumped.

“Yippee!” He exclaimed and stuck his head out the door, gesturing wildly at someone supposedly on the street. “Kou! They’re here! The grub is right here!” The man spun around and made a beeline to an empty seat (which was easy, the whole shop was empty now it was so late).

“One table for Bear and Kou!” the man announced noisily.

“B-bear?” Al repeated not sure if he heard correctly.

“That’s right! We traveled all this way for you,” Bear informed him. Al was a bit shell shocked with all the noise but nodded.

“I’ll bring some tea,” Al said with a smile before retreating to the back.

“Yeah! Lots of it!” Bear cheered. Bear turned in his seat. “Kou get in here!” he called knowing his friend was dillydallying (because Bear is embarrassing).

( Kou = Nikko Bear = Barry. They’re ninjar so can’t very well walk around with norm names.)

Ed frowned at roy, "Yeah, i figure if i dont youll try and bring shit into my shop and i wont let whatever nonsense this is affect my family" anyone claiming to carry a message for the emporer was just waiting to get his ass beat, in ed's opinion. a very humble opinion if you asked him.

he couldnt deny at being a LITTLE charmed at the horse, he might have had a tiny, teensy small soft spot for criters, because al had worn off on him too much, he very much was NOT CHARMED by being picked up, and let it be known by shouting and timing a well placed flailed kick to the bastard's chest, "What the hell?! you cant just pick people up you bastard! I dont fuckin need your help gettin on a dumb horse!"

he was gonna make this journey as miserable for the man as possible


nik: Nikko (im using his real name tho or should i not??) or "Kou" rolled his eyes at his companions antics, he -hated- being stuck with him, but was the only one that could put up with him for long periods. he just gave a deep sigh, and finished tying up their assets (not a person like, a carriage or something to play the part) and turned into the little shop, "You don't gotta yell," he barely refrained from pinching the bridge of his nose as he made his way to the table, and felt a more and more common need to apologize to whoever his companion was thrust upon, "Sorry 'bout him, too long without interaction and he thinks this is how he should interact with people." His tone was tired but kind, and at al's turned back he shot a glare to 'bear', a silent communication of 'are you insane? we need to keep a low profile!'

Roy: quirked an eyebrow at the blonde's behavior. "I'm afraid our time would be better spent, riding and not climbing sir," Roy jabbed in a perfectly polite tone. Then with ease, Roy pulled himself up on the horse behind Edward. "Sit back against me, lest it become a juggling act," Roy directed, his arms snaking beside the boys body to pick up the horse's reigns.

Barry: grinned toothily, totally unphased. "We are going to try one of each, aren't we?" Barry questioned without really questoning because whether Nikko said yes or not, Barry would get those dumplings. "Relax, if we act less friendly, isnt that more suspicious? Hm?" Barry theorized.

Al was returning, balancing two tea cups and a pot. Steam twisted out of the pots stout, trailing behind the Elric as he walked. Alphonse set the ceramic on the table with a great amount of carefullness and soundlessness. "Here we go, let me pour that for you," Aphonse said before doing just that. As he leaned forward, a strand of gold hair spilled over his shoulder. Then a scent caught and it wasn't the earthiness from the green tea. It was sweet, and it was coming from Alphonse.

"Hey you smell good!" Barry commented bluntly. "I've heard of that smell good stuff but I never smelled it in person before." Alphonse brushed the stray of hair bac, behind his ear before replying.

"Oh, the shop across the street. The scientist gave me some."