#major alex louis armstrong

[patron-saints]

the official beginner's guide to olizumi

so! you're a fan of fma or maybe a friend of mine, and you're interested in learning more about the relationship between olivier mira armstrong and izumi curtis! great, you've come to exactly the right place.

if it's been a while since you've seen fma:b, or if you've never seen it and don't mind watching some scenes from the final arc, i recommend getting started with my compilation:

(original video post here)

when i first watched fma:b back in march 2023, i thought i would manage to watch the entire thing without getting obsessed with a wlw ship. i was wrong. the second these two started interacting i immediately became enamored with the trust, respect, and intimacy that they share, and with the way they seemed to find in each other the same steely spirit, grit, and inner sense of self. their ability to communicate their philosophies, despite their differences, and listen to each other with ease and tenderness just. GOT ME. they got me.

get ready for SO MUCH MORE under the cut:

(i was lucky enough to have a chance to draw up a little list of most of my headcanons about them, which can be found here! the most important of which i'd say are that i write them as t4t, and olivier as a stone top!)

if you're convinced of their chemistry just from that, great, my job here is done! but if you don't believe me yet, or you want a little more, it would be my honor to point you in the direction of the first ever fic i wrote for them, "recognition." (tumblr post for chapter 1 here!)

"recognition" can best be described as a 4 chapter old woman yaoi where (almost) nothing happens and two milves fall in love. or if you like, sorry izumi, two very young women navigate the beginnings of a long distance relationship, polyamory, workaholism, and chronic illness. it is sickeningly fluffy, and to date the longest thing i've ever published.

it even comes with an illustration! @wlwsakura did THIS for me:

(original post here) which i will never be over not in one million years!

AND it also comes with a whole entire soundtrack, made by myself and my dearest friend @summerwoodsmoke! kinda a folksy gentle, very sappy vibe. i still listen to it all the time! alex picked some bangers tbh.

for the very first @fma-rareships event, i wrote two little ficlets set in the world of "recognition," which are here and here!

if you're keeping track so far, that's a compilation, a headcanon list, a fic(+ficlets), a commission, and a playlist. but wait, there's more!

so, okay, maybe 23k is too long for you. or maybe fluff isn't your thing. or maybe, somehow, you've made it through all that and you want more. not to worry. i have more.

just this week, i posted "bone deep" (tumblr post here), which is a 5k E rated omegaverse fic that's kind of like recognition on fastforward and if i didn't cut out the sex scenes. and if it was omegaverse. it's the first omega thing i've ever written, but i really wanted a chance to write more in depth about how i see olivier's stone identity, and weirdly this setting gave me the chance to do that!

and now we've covered everything i've made for them...so far. but i want to give a shout out to some others in the rarepairs mines with me, because i'm not the only one who care them!

@machinerismsx's fic "An Open Invitation" is genuinely incredible. it's hilariously funny (there's lines in there i still think about and giggle), and also like. super hot. we didn't know anything about each other's fic projects til after i posted "recognition," but we were stunned to realize we'd written a lot of the exact same plot points, including what i refer to as The Curtis-Armstrong Alliance.

you may have noticed that in my compilation, sig and alex also had like, off the charts chemistry. m and i noticed that too! so in both of our fics, while sig and izumi are still married, they are also each get an armstrong all to themselves, lol.

which brings me to @eggos-esper! my brother-in-arms who is out here as the reigning champ of sigalex! (& you can read the sigalex fic i wrote for him on ao3 here ((or see the tumblr post here!)))

but maybe you're nostalgic for youth. or you like epistolary fics. or maybe you, like me, are deeply obsessed with the miniep "tale of the teacher." if that's you, PLEASE PLEASE check out @baudleaires's fic "Notes from Briggs" it is the cutest thing on planet earth and it had me kicking and squealing the entire time.

maybe you want more art! there's more art!

@iztopher did this one for my birthday and it made me actually scream and then weep:

and @wlwsakura's first piece of them is what made me commission her in the first place:

it's still the photo for one of the groupchats i'm in. it rules.

also, while they're not on tumblr atm, i could not bear to make this list without acknowledging @chillingoose, who is one of my dearest friends and who has come up with some truly stunning things for olizumi as well.

and! and! also @littlebear1537! who loves briggs more than anyone else in the universe!

if i managed to miss anything, my olizumi tag is here! there's not a ton in it at the moment, but there are some jokes, like this one by @heavenlyshadowhunter:

:D

i would LOVE to add more to that tag by any means possible, so if you make anything for olizumi, PLEASE tag me in it! i am also going to work on setting up @olizumi as more of a proper archive too! (edit: i did it! it’s a real blog now!)

thank you so much for reading this incredibly long post, and for giving my girls a chance! <3!

[ovium-sheep]

Few of the first things I drew after entering the fandom 👍

And a little whiteboard I did around the time I joined as well 🙏🙏

(Ignore my friends and my cracked ass pfps)

[paperback-rascal]

They became instant friends due to power of MUSCLES!

... also if you think about it Edward already has the color scheme of The Bad Batch and is just of a wild card they are. Just saying...

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see more The Clone Wars x Fullmetal Alchemist crossover posts here -> [LINK] <-

===

STAR WARS: The Clone Wars/The Bad Batch © George Lucas/ Dave Filoni/ LucasFilm/ Disney

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST © Hiromu Arakwa/studio Bones/Square Enix

[peapodsinspace]

A digital artwork of Alex Louis Armstrong in his youth, hypothetically?

Sure!!!

[Image ID in alt text]

I started drawing him as a kid, then I realized you probably meant something from the ishval-war era, so here’s both!

[derseprinceoftbd]

Hear me out (something you probably hear a lot of with her):

I think Olivier should have been a villain.

Her philosophy of the survival of the strongest never seems *honest*, and that seems like it's kind of a waste of screentime. Like she's basically just a tsundere.

We never actually get characterization for the military high command in an individual capacity besides brief glimpses; this would allow an actual characterized corrupt military leader going along with the scheme, letting us put a face to their callousness (possibly with the plan of slaughtering the rest and being the sole human to receive the supposed immortality benefits of the scheme). It lines up with her philosophy, and, I think, helps move some stuff around in the Plot.

Sloth is... more could definitely have been done with him. I believe Olivier would have been a better final opponent for Armstrong; the courage thing seems pretty easy and obvious against a giant basically pure evil monster, but having to take a stand against both the leadership of your country directly and your own blood seems like a more complete way to bring him finally fighting back full circle.

I think I'll discuss my thoughts on the new Sloth, and various other plot elements I would move around, when I finish the series, but that's a thought I've had so far.

[deltajellybean793]

Alex Louis

Armstrong

Gay Headcanons

We can all agree this man is gay, right?

I doubt Alex would be ashamed of his sexuality, much like he's not ashamed of his body or sensitive side.

He absolutely would get weird stares and the occasional "SNIVELING FOOL!!" from Olivier though, mainly cuz he hasn't gotten a guy yet.

Alex, when he does eventually find a man, there's no doubt he's smaller than him. Do you see how BIG this man is?!!!

Alex would absolutely help his sweetheart with working out if they feel like it, carry him whenever they're sick or tired, and absolutely try to be both the strong knight for his special prince, and the best house husband you could ask for!

Nicknames I can see him using: Prince, My King, Sweetheart, Sweetie, Hubby, Sweet Little Treat.

Speaking of marriage and family, Alex would take absolutely forever to pop the question.

Even if he and his boyfriend have been seeing each other for the longest time, he'd be TERRIFIED of the rejection of his love.

On the topic of children, however, he'd be tearing up just at the thought of him and a beloved husband having a small little family of their own, but he'd try to be the gentlest man ever, more than he is already.

[i-mustache-your-opinion]

ROUND 3 - MATCH A

[fmaoldficarchive]

The Red Hand

By velvetmace - posted 2009-06-28 Archived: yes Rating: G (original rating) mature, according to this archive's definition Category: Gen Warnings: Gore, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Character Death Relationship(s): Catherine Armstrong & Heymans Breda, Alex Louis Armstrong & Heymans Breda Character(s): Heymans Breda, Original Character, Catherine Armstrong, Alex Louis Armstrong Original tags: Fullmetal, Heymans Breda, action, drama Summary: It was so easy to forget how uneven alchemy made a fight. No ordinary guy ever had a chance.

[stachebracket]

Spin-Off 'Stache-Off!!

theme: viewer suggestion

[valerianodrawsthings]

February 19th's fanart was Alex Louis Armstrong from Fullmetal Alchemist!

The only man who can make sparkles look manly as Hell!

[patron-saints]

homemade

this is a gift for @eggos-esper!!! <3 this gif is you and me but with the wlw and mlm sides of the curtis-armstrong alliance:

i really hope you enjoy!

-- -- --

fandom: fullmetal alchemist: brotherhood words: 639 chapter: 1/1 rating: G relationship: alex louis armstrong x sig curtis (implied sig x izumi, olivier x izumi, and alex & olivier, as always lol) content: sig makes alex a nice lunch

-- -- --

sig was making him a BLT. actually, truly making him a BLT. of course, the bread had been baked here, in house curtis, which sig lovingly sliced and set aside. alex watched as he fried the cuts of bacon from his butcher’s shop in just a kiss of maple syrup. it sizzled and popped in the pan. when he was satisfied with its crispiness, he set it down on two pieces of folded paper towel, and toasted the bread in the remaining fat. sig nodded to himself, and stepped out to retrieve a head of butter lettuce and a large heirloom tomato from his garden.

continue on ao3!

[ovium-sheep]

Dogs

[erimeows]

Moving Forward

A sigh falls from between your lips as you walk through the streets of central, a small bag of groceries in one hand and an umbrella in the other. It’s a dreary, rainy day, that of which complements your shitty mood perfectly. 

You’re an accomplished state alchemist, yet you’ve been bounced around just about every command center since the war in Ishval ended. Central Amestris just happens to be where the government needs you, so that’s where you are, the life you had started to make for yourself near western headquarters uprooted just like the last time so you could come serve the state.

You’re exhausted, and suspicious, too. They’ve started to move all of the talented alchemists such as yourself, who were once evenly divided between the five military bases in Amestris, to central. Something is wrong that they’re not telling you and you don’t like it, but you’re both too tired and too scared to get involved. You’ve already gone through a war- the last thing you want is to meddle in whatever corruption is going on in the government. 

And, despite what Fuhrer Bradley says about how much he appreciates the veterans from Ishval, the promotions hardly mean anything. Central is overpopulated and it’s hard to find a decent place to stay. The shitty apartment you’re forced to live in is nothing short of a disaster. You dread returning home, even now, as rain pours and your hands ache from carrying the paper bag full of groceries.

You look up to see a sea of unfamiliar faces. Just when you’d gotten to know some of the people in your old neighborhood, you got reassigned. The people in central are far colder, meaning that, for the most part, you’re alone. There’s other state alchemists that you recognize here in central, such as Roy Mustang, who you served with, but talking to the same people who murdered innocent civilians just as you did as if nothing happened isn’t something you think you can do. 

Since the move, you wake up, go to work, keep to yourself, go home, and go to bed. It’s a lonely life, but it’s still better than you feel you deserve. 

Suddenly, you hear a snap, followed by the tumbling of something onto the ground. You quickly look down to see that the rain water soaked through your paper grocery bag. The bottom broke with the weight of the groceries, sending your fruits, vegetables, meat, and bread to the concrete floor. 

Thunder booms in the background as you bend down to gather the groceries into your arms. You think about how the hell you’re going to carry all of this and get your front door open when, suddenly, you hear a voice.

“(y/n)! Is that you?”

You look up to see none other than Alex Louis Armstrong. His voice booms with a mixture of excitement and disbelief. Your heart skips a beat as he begins to approach you. Part of you is excited because you’ve always liked him, but the other part of you wants to run away. The difference between you and Alex is that, during the war, Alex left when he should have. He called out his superiors for doing the wrong thing and went home before the bad situation got worse. You, on the other hand, stayed, and you’re embarrassed. You’re embarrassed that you didn’t defend him when he received a verbal lashing from Basque Grand, and you’re embarrassed that you didn’t return home along with him. 

“Oh, Major Armstrong,” You start, raking him in with your eyes. He hasn’t changed a bit; his icy blue eyes are still full of that same warmth and determination you saw all those years ago, and the smile he flashes at you is just as genuine. He kneels down in front of you and picks up your groceries, easily holding them within one arm. “Is it really you?”

“Indeed, it is I, Alex Louis Armstrong!” He beams, and though you’re not in the best of moods, you can’t help but smile when you see his smile. “It’s been far too long!”

“Yes,” You nod and stand up straight, holding your ruined grocery bag tightly between your hands to keep them occupied. He’s still carrying your groceries in one giant arm, as if they’re nothing. “You look well, Major.”

“We are friends, (y/n),” Alex says the words easily, to which you raise an eyebrow. He still considers you a friend after all of this time… You haven’t seen each other in years. You’ve thought of him, occasionally, the tiny crush you had on him before the war turned into a full on extermination still in the back of your mind, but you haven’t reached out. You’re too nervous, and you were always too far away. Now, both of you are in central. “You may call me Alex.”

“Then, Alex… Thank you for picking up my groceries. You didn’t have to do that. I’m embarrassed. I can take them now.”

“Nonsense,” He says with a shake of his head. “I can carry them. Were you headed home? I’ll walk you there!”

“If that’s what you want to do,” You shrug and hold your umbrella out further so it covers both of your heads.

With that, the two of you begin to walk to your apartment. 

“How have you been, my dear friend? I haven’t seen you since…” Alex trails off.

“Right,” You swallow. “Since Ishval.”

The word ‘Ishval’ sits heavy in the air between you, a rain-soaked specter neither of you can ignore. Alex’s face softens, and you see a flicker of pain in his eyes before he nods in agreement.

“Indeed. I left before…” He hesitates, looking away for a moment before returning his gaze to you. You find it hard to look at him, but impossible to look away. “Before things escalated. But I’ve often thought of those who stayed behind, who bore the weight of that tragedy. I know it could not have been easy.”

You force a thin smile, gripping the handle of your umbrella tightly. The memories churn at the edges of your mind just like they always do. They’re always there, in the background of whatever you’re doing. You don’t want to think about it more than you already do, but his words dig at a wound you’ve never quite let heal. You’re surprised he doesn’t look down on you for staying, for not leaving when you should’ve like he had done.

“It wasn’t,” You admit. Normally, you wouldn’t bother engaging with anyone else about this, especially those who were there, but there’s something about Alex that makes him easy to talk to. “It still isn’t.”

Alex hums, his brows knitting together in deep thought. 

“Yes, but I’ve always believed that one’s actions in difficult times don’t define them completely. We must also be judged by how we choose to move forward. I know what you’re thinking, and… Well, I was there, too. Just because I left doesn’t mean that I never did the wrong thing.”

You glance at him, and you’re sure the shock you’re feeling carries over to your expression. He speaks with such conviction, as if he genuinely believes redemption is possible for people like you; people who stayed, who did what they were told, who didn’t walk away when they should have. It’s almost enough to make you believe it too.

“Alex, you can’t possibly compare what you did with what people like me did… You don’t know what things were like after you left. It got worse. So, so much worse.”

“You’re right that what we’ve done cannot be compared, so don’t make it sound like you’re a worse person than I am…” Right as he says that, the two of you reach your apartment. You climb up the stairs with Alex following close behind you. Then, you unlock the door, glancing at him from over your shoulder. “This is not a path one must walk alone. If there’s anything I can do to help you, please, let me know. We are friends, after all. Even after all this time.”

The word strikes you again. Friends. You’ve spent so much time avoiding your old comrades, shutting yourself away from anything that reminds you of what you’ve done. Yet here Alex is, extending a hand without hesitation, as if no time has passed.

“Thank you,” Is all you can say as you lead Alex into the apartment.

Your apartment is a piece of shit that looks even worse in the dim, flickering light of your kitchen. You feel a pang of embarrassment as Alex sets the groceries down on your counter. To avoid his eyes, you put the broken paper bag in the trash, drop your umbrella on the floor, and begin to put the groceries away.

You can already imagine his gaze; going from you, to the uneven flooring that seems to shift with instability every time one of you steps on it, to the cracks in the ceiling that allow rain to drip in. You don’t want to see the way his face will look when he cringes at your life. 

“I must say, I am concerned about this… Living situation. Are you comfortable staying here? It seems… less than ideal.”

Your cheeks burn with humiliation. Perhaps you should’ve carried the groceries home by yourself and left your umbrella behind… 

“It’s fine. I don’t need much. Rent’s cheap, too.”

He frowns, crossing his strong arms over his chest. You finish putting the groceries away and lean back against the kitchen counter with your back to him. 

“But you deserve more. A home that reflects your hard work and accomplishments.”

You laugh sardonically. 

“Accomplishments? Is that what we’re calling it?”

Alex’s expression softens. He steps closer, circling the counter so he can stand next to you.h

“(y/n), I know the past weighs heavily on you, but you’ve survived, and that is no small feat. You’ve earned the right to be kind to yourself.”

You look up at him, startled by the sincerity in his words. For so long, you’ve carried your guilt like a punishment, a burden you believe you deserve. Hearing someone speak so openly, so kindly- it feels foreign to you.

“I…” You begin, but the words catch in your throat. 

You look away, overwhelmed by Alex’s kindness. You suppose he’s always been that way..

“If you don’t want to be kind to yourself… I will simply have to be kind to you to make up for that.”

“Thank you, Alex. Really.”

His warm smile returns, and for a moment, it feels like a crack of sunlight breaking through the storm clouds of your life.

“I would love to catch up more, but I’m afraid I have some work to do,” Alex explains. “If the weather permits, would you be open to accompanying me to dinner later tonight?”

“I-” You pause, your breath catching in your throat. “Like a date?”

“If you’re alright with that,” Alex murmurs. Even with his large stature, he looks unusually small as a light dusting of red takes over his cheeks. “I understand if you’re not interested.”

“No, no, I’d like to go. Really.”

“Amazing! I’ll pick you up at eight!” Alex beams.

“You don’t have to do that-”

“Nonsense! My car has been in the Armstrong family line for generations!”

You smile.

“Alright, then, Alex. I’ll see you at eight.”

With that, he turns and walks out of your house, disappearing into the rain. You stand there for a moment, basking in the warmth that lingers where his hand had rested on your shoulder.

For the first time in a long while, you feel something stirring within you- something small and fragile but undeniable. Hope that, maybe, you can move forward.

~

The rain continues to patter softly against the windowpane as you finish getting ready for your dinner date with Alex. Since you’re not sure where you’re going, you’ve opted for a simple but classy outfit; something that will blend in at a nice restaurant, but not get you stares for being overdressed at a more casual one. 

You know that you look presentable and that Alex wouldn’t have asked you to go out with him if he didn’t see you in a positive light. Still, there’s a small pang of anxiety as you glance at the clock. There’s only five minutes late until he’s supposed to pick you up. Knowing him, he’ll show up a little early. 

You wonder how the date is going to go. If the rest of your life is anything to go off of, it’s going to be a disaster, but you’d like to be more optimistic than that when it comes to Alex… 

You wait in your tiny entryway, pacing. The floor creaks and shifts with each step of your dress shoes against the faux wood.

The unmistakable rumble of a car engine hums just outside. Peeking out of your window, you spot Alex’s car, an old but well-kept vehicle that he has to awkwardly crouch to get out of because of how large he is. You chuckle at the sight. 

He parks and steps out with an umbrella held in one hand. He’s dressed in a white button up with a blue coat over it, black slacks, and matching dress shoes; it’s nice, but not too formal. You’re relieved that he hasn’t outdressed you. With a quick inhale to steady yourself, you grab your coat and head outside to meet him so he doesn’t have to climb all the stairs that lead up to your apartment.

Alex’s face lights up with a big, bright smile when he sees you climb down the stairs and approach him on the sidewalk. 

“You look wonderful,” He compliments while holding the umbrella over your head to protect you from the rain.

“Thanks. You clean up pretty well yourself.”

“Ah, this old outfit?” He chuckles. “It’s been passed down through generations of the Armstrong family. A symbol of refinement and strength!”

“Right, well… You still look nice.”

“Well, thank you for saying so, (y/n).”

He escorts you to the passenger’s door of the car, shielding you from the rain with his umbrella. After you get in and put your seatbelt on, Alex closes his umbrella, places it in the backseat, and climbs into the driver’s seat. Again, he has to hunch to fit into the car, and you suspect that his legs are too long to drive comfortably. He manages to get you there safely regardless.

The restaurant isn’t far. You recognize it as soon as he parks on the side of the building; it’s a cozy little bistro not too far from central city headquarters. You’ve heard your coworkers talk about going in passing- with each other for friendly outings, with their bosses for meetings, with their families, with their girlfriends or boyfriends for dates. Of course, you’ve never been invited to such a gathering- at least not until now.

Alex parks at the front of the building and takes his seatbelt off. You go to open your door, but before you can, Alex has already circled the car and opened it for you. He offers you an arm, so you take it, wrapping your smaller arm around his. With how unimposing he tends to be, you forgot just how huge he was. He absolutely dwarfs you in height as the two of you approach the restaurant. Thankfully, the rain has halted enough for the two of you to walk without an umbrella. You just hope it stays that way until you return home.

You walk into the restaurant and feel immediate relief at how warm it is. You’re flooded in the glow of the low lighting and the scent of freshly baked bread. The host, a man dressed in a black button up with a green tie and matching pants and shoes, leads you two to a quiet table near a fireplace. You sit down in your chair, across from Alex, and thank the host before he leaves to go back to his station near the restaurant’s entrance.

The waitress comes by to greet you and take your drink orders. Then, she quickly excuses herself, leaving you and Alex alone at the table.

Alex glances at you as you look at the leatherbound menu. His own menu remains untouched. That must mean he already knows what he wants. With the money his family has, you wouldn’t be surprised if he comes to eat here often. This place, with its mahogany tables draped in white linen cloths and its porcelain tile floors, feels far too nice for you to be in. You ignore the feeling in favor of trying to figure out what you want to eat. You don’t want to sour the mood with your insecurities.

“I hope you enjoy the food, (y/n). This place has always been a favorite of mine, but I have to admit that I’m unfamiliar with your food preferences. If it isn’t up to your standards, we can always go somewhere else.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” You reassure him, knowing that, even if you don’t like it, you can pretend that you do to spare his sensitive heart from the disappointment. 

The waitress comes back to take your order moments later. Alex orders a bottle of wine for the table as well as… Well, one of almost everything. You figure it makes sense that he needs to eat that much to keep weight on at his size. You order the least expensive thing you can find on the menu, knowing that he won’t let you pay for the meal after seeing your measly groceries and shitty apartment earlier today.

“I’ve often wondered if I did the right thing by leaving,” Alex says as soon as the waitress is out of earshot. He takes a deep breath and taps his fingers against the table before continuing. “I was true to my principles, but I’ve always carried the fear that I abandoned my comrades. My sister, Olivier… She won’t let me live it down. I admire your courage for staying, even if it was difficult.”

You shake your head, surprised by his sudden admission. 

“Courage? I don’t think it was courage, at least not on my end. I was just afraid that leaving would somehow be worse than staying… Of course, I had no idea how bad it was going to get.”

“Fear is natural. Fear is what motivated me to leave… Fear is what kept me from standing up against the extermination the way I should’ve. Fear consumes most of us, but… I’ve tried to set a better example since then. If I felt guilty every minute of every day, (y/n), I wouldn’t be able to function. I don’t know how anyone could live like that.”

“Is that how you think I live?” You retort before you can think better of it.

“I’m not sure,” He softly answers. “I certainly hope not.”

“Alex,” You start, your curiosity getting the better of you. It’s odd for him to suddenly ask you out on a date after all these years, especially after seeing the mess that was your apartment and knowing about the things you did during the war. “Why… Why exactly did you ask me to come here tonight?”

The waitress comes by to bring the bottle of chilled wine and a basket of warm bread. She pours both of you a glass of the burgundy drink, leaves the bottle on the table along with the bread basket, and walks away. You stress-eat a piece of rye as Alex answers your question.

“I was always fond of you back then, (y/n). Telling you the truth was yet another thing I feared,” Alex explains. “I promised after I left that I would never allow my fear to get in the way of anything again. When I saw you, I knew that I had to at least try.”

“Alex… I’m not the same person that I was when we first met,” You frown.

Alex reaches across the table for your hand. You let out a light gasp at the contact, but don’t pull away. You allow him to gently hold your hand.

“I am certainly not the same either, (y/n). None of us are.”

“Fair enough.”

“I would like to get to know the person you’ve become, perhaps even more than I wanted to know you all those years ago.”

You swallow deeply, nervous yet excited. 

“Then… I’d like to get to know you, too, Alex.”

You and Alex stay like that for a moment, staring into each other’s eyes. Alex only lets go of your hand when the waitress comes by with the food. The two of you eat, chatting about lighter things such as your move to central and his adventures with his family. The food is delicious and the wine is even better. It’s the best meal you’ve had in a long, long time. It’s odd to think that this time tomorrow, you’ll probably be alone, off on some mission with nothing but a belly full of hot coffee. 

When the waitress brings your check in a little leather book, Alex takes it without letting you look at the cost. Though you suspect he won’t let you contribute, you still dig your wallet out of your pocket and ask-

“How much is it? I’ll go half and cover the tip, too.”

“Consider it my treat,” Alex says. Noticeably, he doesn’t divulge the cost of all the food he ordered, nor does he divulge the cost of the fancy wine. You know it’s probably at least a couple hundred dollars for all of it. He takes a few bills out of his wallet and places them in the notebook, then writes a note on the receipt with a pen. It’s hard to read, but you make out the words well enough to see ‘Thank you for your wonderful service! Please, keep the change.’. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had such wonderful company. I was the one who invited you, after all!”

“Very well, Alex. Let’s go. I’m sure we both have early starts tomorrow.”

The drive back to your apartment is quieter but much more comfortable. The clouds that took over the sky for most of the day part to reveal it. The rain, at least for now, seems to have stopped. Alex pulls up to your building and turns off the engine, then steps out to open your door for you yet again. His chivalrous nature, though familiar, feels different tonight- more personal. You hate to admit that you could very much get used to being treated so kindly, especially by him.

“Thank you for tonight,” You say as the two of you stand under the crumbling awning of your apartment complex. “I didn’t realize how much I needed this.”

“The pleasure was all mine,” He replies with a grin. “I’m glad we could reconnect. You’ve always meant a great deal to me.”

“Alex,” You murmur. 

You know you should say goodbye and go inside, and that he should bid you farewell and get back into his car, but neither of you move from where you’re standing. Instead, both of you stay standing there. The gap between the two of you gradually closes and before you know it, your hands are on his broad chest.

He hesitates, his hand hovering near your cheek, almost as if he’s afraid of hurting you with his strength.

“May I?”

You nod, your heart racing. If it beats any harder, it might actually burst out of your chest. You wonder if his heart is doing the same thing. 

His touch is warm as he cups your face with one hand, his thumb lightly ghosting over your cheekbone. Both of you slowly lean in until your lips meet in a soft, tender kiss. The warmth of it spreads through you like a fire, melting away the coldness of the dreary weather, if only for a little bit.

After what seems like forever, you break the kiss. He rests his forehead rests against yours. Your breath mingles with his in the cool night’s air as he looks into your (e/c) eyes.

“Thank you,” He murmurs. “For letting me take you out tonight.”

You smile, feeling lighter than you have in a long time. 

“Thank you, Alex. For everything.”

“It’s been my pleasure, (y/n). Would you like to do this again? Same time, say, this Friday?”

You break away with a nod.

“I’d love that.”

[felixcloud6288]

Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 107

I've never commented on any of the title pages but I really want to talk about the one for this chapter.

When I first saw this image, I made it my computer background for a long while. There's just something about people coming together for a united and just cause that makes me emotional.

And there's just the wonderful touch that this includes EVERYONE who is united under this cause, including those who could not or did not make it. We can see the hands (and hairbun) of Hughes, Foo, Havoc, Pinako, Winry, Buccaneer, and ...

KIMBLEE!?! So yeah, Pride's actions last chapter disgusted Kimblee so much that he opted to throw his full support (meager as it was for he was just a single soul in Pride's body at that point) into stopping Father. If he was still alive, he more than likely would have fought alongside the heroes in the final battle.

An alternate joke interpretation: They're all playing rock-paper-scissors and Xiao Mei won cause she was the only one who chose paper while everyone else chose rock.

What's the point of having powers if you can't use them for more mundane purposes like protecting yourself from bits of debris.

And that's a nice little detail that Greed is protecting Lanfan from it as well. He doesn't get along with her at all, but he's still going to protect her because it's just in his nature.

And look at the elegant craftmanship that could only be created by the beauty of Alex Louis Armstrong's Alchemy.

Olivier Mira Armstrong finally trusts her brother to lead.

There is so much out-of-context Royai bait this chapter.

Major General Armstrong didn't get the memo that Scar is on her side. Her troops all have guns pointed at him.

Now that there's nothing else for her to do, Olivier is able to take time to process Buccaneer's death and grieve.

Before there was Smash Ultimate, this fight was where the phrase "Everyone is Here!" applied. Anyone who could make it participated in the final battle and it was the most hype thing ever.

Imagine you're playing an RPG where you only ever get to use 5 party members max during the whole game. Then you go into the final battle and you pick your 5 mains. And when you press Confirm, a message pops up saying "All party members must be selected."

This is a fight where the hype is due to how everyone is getting to participate. And it does an excellent job because the entire strategy is keep Father on the defensive and burn out his stone. He cannot attack and defend at the same time so it will take a whole army to beat him because anything less will not be able to keep up the consistent pressure.

Once again, I feel like a page is missing in the chapter. Ed is pinned and Father is going to try stealing his soul. And Al immediately decides to trade his soul so Ed can regain his arm. Maybe I'm just spoiled because the final battle in the anime managed to be even more hype and we have a scene of Al screaming and trying to crawl his way toward Father only to realize his bloodrune was about to be damaged by the crack in his armor.

He understands his soul is about to get separated permanently, so he might as well use it to give Ed a fighting chance.

Every shot of Ed's right shoulder after really makes me wince. The metal socket for his automail is still there. His arm was just attached over it. He's going to need surgery after this is over.

Ed finally got to use a spear before it was destroyed.

And seeing all this, this "ultimate power" being utterly defeated and everyone putting their hopes on Ed, Greed has a moment of self-reflection.

He's spent his life trying to get that power Father has gained, and it is nothing. But he hears everyone cheering Ed on and he realizes that's what he'd like.

Greed is his own person, but he still has many of Father's faults. In particular, he can't feel content with anything because he's always looking up at those with more than him.

He wishes he had friends and companionship so strong that everyone would put their trust in him.

I used the below image and NASA's simulation of the 2023 eclipse to estimate how long it took the heroes to beat Father.

Father spent roughly 350 years to achieve his plot to seal god within himself and become a perfect being. He was defeated 35 minutes later.

back

[bubbblesss000]

Antimony represents the wild and animalistic parts of human nature~

an Edward Elric x reader fanfiction.

~05~

In the dim light of the hotel room, sunlight peeking through the curtains. Edward and Alphonse sat on the edge of their beds, Y/N sat across from them at the table, the weight of their recent failure hanging heavy in the air. Suddenly a loud  booming voice interrupted them from outside the door. "Edward Elric! Alphonse Elric! Y/N Mustang! I demand your attention at once!" The voice belonged to none other than Major Alex Louis Armstrong. Edward sighed, running a hand through his unruly golden hair, while Alphonse, in his towering armored form, looked at the door with concern. Y/N looked down and muttered “Do you think we can ignore him?”. Without warning, the door burst open, splintering at the hinges, and there stood the Major, his muscular frame filling the doorway, his expression a mix of determination and dramatic flair. “I heard all about it, Edward Elric!” he proclaimed, a sympathetic tear sitting in his eye. Armstrong clutched his chest and projected “Such a tragedy!! Who would’ve imagined that the philosopher's stone concealed such a terrible secret!” Edward, looking unimpressed,  turned towards Ross and Brosh who awkwardly stood by the side of the Major. Ross squeaked out an apology as Armstrong carried on his monologue. 

“- The truth can be cruel!” The taller man exclaimed. 

The truth. The truth… hidden within the truth. Of course.

A beat of silence passed, Edward and Y/N’s heads shot up and they shared a look of understanding. She started “Isn’t that-” 

Ed cut her off “The truth hidden within the truth, that’s one of the last things Marcoh said before we got back on the train!” determination filing his eyes once again. He started mumbling to himself, scratching his chin as he thought, leaving everyone else in the room confused. “Major! What lab did Dr. Marcoh work at?”

Armstrong took a second to think “I think it was the 3rd laboratory, that's most likely where his research took place!” Ross grabbed the map of Amestris off of the wall and opened it up across the table. “3rd? It couldn’t have been there. We visited that lab after our certifications and I don't remember seeing anything that could’ve been research for the stone.” Y/N said, looking down at the map. 

Ed pointed to a blank building next to Central Prison on the map, “What building is this?” 

“That is an abandoned lab, it's apparently structurally unsafe so it closed down, that was 

years ago.” Ross stated factually. 

“That’s the place.” The blonde teen stated.

“How can you be so certain?” Brosh questioned the boy.

“If the main ingredient for a philosopher’s stone is human life, they would have access to plenty of raw materials there, doesn't it seem convenient that the lab next to a prison is shut down?” Edward said begrudgingly. The room was silent. The Sargent spoke “if the prison is involved, doesn’t that mean the government is too?”. 

Major Armstrong piped up “Remember this is just speculation right now. It is possible that the research department is working alone without the government…But we can’t exactly find that out, Scar killed the head of the research department a few days ago.” 

“General Grand?” Alphonse questioned.

“If someone higher than Brigadier General Grand is involved, then that makes this whole situation more complicated… Because of that I will investigate this on my own for now.” Armstrong said, worry lacing his voice, he turned to face the three teens “That means you three will stay put! I know you were already thinking of sneaking into the 5th laboratory! Don’t even think about it, this is too dangerous for children to be snooping around in.” and with that 2nd LIeutenant Ross, Seagrant Brosh and Major Armstrong left the room, Ross and Brosh returning to their posts outside of the hotel door.

As twilight descended on the city of Central, a blanket of shadows cloaked the ominous silhouette of the Fifth Laboratory. Edward Elric, with his trademark determination etched across his face, peered up at the towering wall that separated them from the secrets hidden within. Beside him, Alphonse Elric stood tall in his massive armor, his eyes reflecting the flickering light of the setting sun. And then there was you, Y/N, heart racing with a mix of excitement and trepidation. “Are you ready?” Edward asked, glancing back at you with a spark of mischief in his eyes. He had a knack for turning ordinary moments into grand adventures. You nodded, swallowing your fear as you took a deep breath. Alphonse extended a hand, his voice gentle yet firm, “We’ll stick together. No matter what happens.” With that, the three of you approached the wall, its surface looming like a giant guardian. The faint sounds of the city faded away, replaced by the pulse of adrenaline thrumming in your veins.With a quick boost from Alphonse, Edward climbed up first, then extended his arm down for you. You grasped it tightly, the cool metal of his hand grounding you as you scrambled up the wall. The moment you reached the top, the sight before you was breathtaking and terrifying at the same time. The sprawling complex of the Fifth Laboratory lay before you, illuminated by the pale moonlight. “Let’s go,” Edward urged, his voice a mix of excitement and urgency. The three of you stealthily descended from the wall, landing silently on the other side. As you crept through the shadows, the air felt charged with anticipation. Whispers of ancient experiments and forbidden knowledge echoed in your mind, fueling your determination. Each step brought you closer to the heart of the lab, and the thrill of the unknown enveloped you like a cloak. “Sheesh they couldn’t have boarded that door anymore” Y/N laughed pointing towards the extremely boarded up door of the lab. A vent in the wall caught their attention first. It was small, barely wide enough for a person to squeeze through, but a spark of curiosity lit up Edward's golden eyes. “Think we can fit in there?” Y/N asked, eyeing the vent skeptically. Alphonse, towering and clad in his trusty armor, shrugged, his voice a soft echo. “I don’t think I’ll be squeezing in there anytime soon” Ed looked towards his brother “Al you should wait here, we shouldn’t be long.” With determination, he hoisted himself up and cracked the covering off of the opening and slipped inside, Y/N exchanged a fleeting glance with Alphonse before following suit, her pulse quickening as she crawled through the narrow passage. Inside, the air was stale, punctuated by the sounds of the teens crawling through the metal tunnel. The vent led to a split in the path, left or right. “Should we split up?” Y/N whispered from behind the boy, not wanting to make too much noise. “What’s the worst that could happen?” He said looking over his shoulder. He went left, she went right.

As Y/N crawled deeper into the narrow duct, the clanking of metal reverberated, making it hard to hear their own thoughts. The darkness enveloped them like a shroud, but their heart raced at the prospect of uncovering hidden truths. She pressed on, thoughts drifting to Edward, who had always been the brave one, charging headfirst into danger. The memory of his fierce determination fueled Y/N’s resolve. She silently vowed to remain cautious, knowing that one wrong move could lead to disaster.

Meanwhile, Edward navigated his own path through the maze of vents, his mind racing with possibilities. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, the tension palpable in the air around him. Every slight sound made him pause, listening intently for any sign of danger. As he moved, he thought of Y/N, hoping she was safe. He had always admired her courage, and this mission was no exception. The thought of facing whatever lay ahead without Y/N by his side felt like a weight on his chest. As he trudged through the treacherous terrain, memories of Y/N's smile and laughter flooded his mind, providing a flicker of warmth in the cold darkness. He vowed to return to her, to hold her in his arms once more and never let go. With each step forward, his determination grew stronger.

Y/N wriggled through the narrow, shadowy ducts of the Fifth Laboratory, the air heavy with dust and a subtle metallic tang. The excitement of discovery swiftly morphed into dread as the vent suddenly collapsed beneath them, sending Y/N tumbling down and crashing onto the frigid, tiled floor below. Startled, Y/N quickly scrambled to her feet, glancing around to find an empty corridor, a sinking feeling creeping in. She stood still, eyes darting around, up and down. As her eyes reached the far end of the hallway, a figure emerged from the darkness, its long hair flaring out. “Well, well, what do we have here?” It taunted, taking a leisurely step forward, feet slapping against the tile. Y/N felt a shiver run down her spine. “Lost, are we? Or perhaps just looking for trouble?” Its voice dripped with sarcasm, making it clear it was relishing the moment. She could feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end as she tried to maintain her composure. The figure's taunting tone only fueled her determination to prove them wrong. With a steely gaze, she squared her shoulders and took a deep breath, getting ready to run. The closer the figure got the more of it she could see, it's strange outfit, it's strange tattoo. Panic set in as she struggled to comprehend what she was seeing, unsure of how to react. As the figure drew nearer, she could feel her breath quicken and her muscles tense. The unfamiliarity of the situation only added to her fear, making her mind race with questions and doubts. Should she confront the figure or flee? The decision had to be made quickly, as time seemed to slow down in the midst of her panic. Her heart pounded in her chest as she weighed her options. Confronting the figure could be dangerous, but running away might also lead to unforeseen consequences. 

Y/N's heart hammered in her chest as she sprinted down the tiled corridor, the sharp echoes of their footsteps mingling with the distant, mocking laughter of the figure. The walls seemed to close in on her, each flickering overhead light casting long shadows that danced menacingly with every hurried step, coming closer, and closer to the doors. Its voice taunted from behind, a serpentine hiss that sent chills racing down Y/N's spine. "You can’t run forever," it called, the sound dripping with cruel amusement. She turned to see how far back it was, to see it was right behind her. Before she could react, it lunged forward, grabbing Y/N by her hair with a force that sent shockwaves through her body. The world seemed to spin as it forcefully slammed her against the cold, tiled wall, leaving her gasping for air. Her body hit the floor. Its sinister green eyes gleamed with mischief, a wicked smirk playing at the corners of its lips. "What do we have here? A little girl lost in a world far too big for her?" he taunted, its voice dripping with malice. 

With a sudden burst of energy, Y/N lunged up, landing a blow to its face, sending the creature back forcefully, its laughter echoing through the hallway, “You think you can hurt me?” it taunted, its voice dripping with contempt. Y/N stood, blood seeping from her forehead, summoning every ounce of strength and determination. With a swift motion, Y/N pressed her hands together, the air crackling with energy as she used the symbol on her gloves creating a blade of water that quickly hardened into ice. The two clashed, throwing themselves toward each other, their movements a blur as they danced around each other, a chaotic ballet of power and fury. As the fight raged on, Y/N's muscles screamed in protest, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The unknown being seemed to feed off their exhaustion, its smirk widening with each blow it landed and each swish of Y/N’s blade it dodged. With steely determination, she continued to press forward, her resolve unwavering even in the face of such a formidable opponent. The clash of ice against unknown power created a symphony of danger and defiance. “This is getting boring, I'm not even allowed to hurt you too much,” it complained, “You’d be so easy to kill, why have you got to be a sacrifice”. Y/N stopped, pointing her ice blade at its throat. “Sacrifice? What are you talking about?” It laughed, unmoving. Y/N's heart raced as she stood her ground, refusing to back down in the face of this mysterious figure. Every word spoken was like a dagger, cutting through the tension in the room. “Oopsie, I might have said too much,” it joked, shrugging its shoulders, acting like it couldn't see the blade inches away from its airway. Y/N's grip on the ice dagger tightened, her eyes narrowing as she tried to decipher the true intentions of this mysterious figure. Despite its casual demeanor, there was a calculated edge to its words that sent a shiver down her spine. Without warning, it lunged forward, a blur of green and darkness, it's sharp claws poised to strike. Y/N barely had time to react as it closed the distance, a wicked grin spreading across its face. Time seemed to slow as she braced herself for impact, but the blow came quicker than she anticipated. It's fist connected with her face , a forceful jab that sent her crashing to the ground, unconscious before she even hit the tiles.

[silver-tangent]

The opposite of toxic masculinity, positive masculinity, is Major Alex Louis Armstrong. I will not be accepting questions. I will however accept additions.