daily writing (FMA)

17,751 / 30,000 (58.0%)

305 words from late in the chronology of Alchemy and Other Lies, archived on AO3.


Roy heard Gracie say, "Orchids? Honey, these are beautiful, where did you get them?"

He poked his head around the doorway just in time to see Alicia answer, beaming, "Fletcher showed me how to make them," and hold up a sheet of paper with an array inked on it in sparkling purple marker.

"Thank you," Gracie said to Alicia, but she was grinning at Roy.

Roy glared at Fletcher Tringham. Fletcher had the grace to blush but looked otherwise unperturbed. It was possible Roy had been overusing his glare on the boy if that was all the response it got.

"You're welcome," said Alicia. She smiled shyly at Roy. "Do you like them?" she asked.

Roy took the array from Alicia and said gruffly, "You shouldn't use sparklers for this kind of thing. Non-continuous arrays have unpredictable effects."

"Says the man who embroidered accents in gold thread on those famous gloves of his," Gracie reminded him cheerfully. Roy had always thought you were supposed to embarrass your offspring in front of their potential mates, not your husband.

"Which lasted for about two days," Roy said patiently. "Because it didn't work."

"Sorry, sir," said Fletcher, twisting his hands behind his back in earnest apology.

"I'll use regular pen next time," Alicia promised.

Roy sighed and rubbed his forehead. Next time? "Alchemy's dangerous--" he began.

"No, it's not," Alicia said, frowning at him. "Not this kind. Just making flowers? There's no harm it. You worry too much."

Fletcher said, "I promise we won't try anything risky without running it by you, sir."

"But--" Roy said.

Gracie stopped him with a kiss on the cheek. "Can't be helped," she said. "If she's an alchemist, she's alchemist. Like father, like daughter."

Roy glared. "It's a recessive trait!" he declared, and went off to fireproof the house.