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Tweak says, "Always smile, it scares people"

Elijah Clément (priceoffreedom) wrote in nosuchtimes,
@ 2008-11-08 14:24:00

Entry tags:

constance alexie, elijah clément

Elijah, Aubert, and Little Constance
Who: Aubert, Elijah, and little Constance
When: Autumn, 1940
Where: Alaska
What: Aubert and Elijah make a trip to share his alchemic knowledge and meet a young Constance

A journey to Alaska was the furthest thing from Elijah’s mind, but Aubert insisted on making the trip. There had been legends spread amongst the various tribes in the frozen North that spoke of people with powers to change ordinary items into jewels and sometimes gold. The older generation called it magic, but Aubert knew instantly that it was alchemy. It was the same gift that he had been given, and it was exciting news since the old Frenchman had never met another alchemist before in his entire life. He knew he could not pass on the opportunity to meet others like himself, and to share his knowledge with them.

“Allez, Elijah!” The old man yelled over the heavy winds that blew across the land they traveled. The cold bit against Elijah’s skin, but he could handle it without a problem. He was, however, worried about the old man that he was journeying with. Aubert was well over two-hundred years old now; carmot having kept him alive this entire time. But as the alchemist’s protector, Elijah could not help but feel worried about him. Elijah sought to ease the older man’s burden by carrying all of their supplies, along with the journals they had brought with them. The journals were, as Aubert said, “to spread the knowledge of alchemy to others.” It was the alchemist’s greatest wish – to have his legacy pass on to the next generation. It was the reason he had pushed Elijah to learn all of the formulas and laboratory techniques – he wanted something of his to live on into the future.

The pair reached a remote town in the Alaskan countryside, and entered the local tavern. The environment was warm, and welcoming despite the odd looks that were cast in the direction of the alchemist and elemental. Aubert immediately approached the bartender to ask questions about the local legends while Elijah seated himself at an empty table. Though Elijah had enhanced strength, the bags he had been carrying had become heavy over the past few hours they had walked. He relaxed into the wooden chair, slouching a bit as he waited for Aubert. Elijah smiled at the other patrons in the tavern, glad for the respite from his travels with his alchemist.

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constantguard
2008-11-08 04:50 pm UTC (link)

It wasn't very often that they had strangers come into town for visits. Constance's visit to town with her parents wasn't supposed to be very long, but her father was having some sort of important talk with a white man about business while she and her mother waited for him. Constance wandered from her mother to go to the restroom. Her mother only let her go this one time because Constance insisted she was a big girl and she could take care of herself in the bathroom. A tavern just wasn't the place for a little girl like her, hence her mother's worry. She emerged from the restroom and wandered back out into the main area, veering off the path of returning to her mother right away.

As she passed by the bar, she heard a man talking about magic and making gold. Constance's ears perked up. She may have only been ten, but she knew what he was talking about without having to be any older. The old man was talking about alchemy. As Constance slowly walked without looking where she was going, her head turned towards the man talking at the bar, she bumped into the side of somebody's chair on accident.

Constance quickly righted herself by holding onto the chair. "I'm sorry," she said immediately, looking a little scared that she had knocked into someone's chair. She had seen many frightening men in taverns before, and it was natural for her to be afraid that she had upset someone who was quick to anger. Her parents would be so mad at her if she caused a scene here. She wasn't even supposed to be in here to begin with, but she sneaked into the back and hid herself under a blanket on the way here. Her parents were mad when they found out, but she was already here with them, and they couldn't send her home. It would have been a waste of time.

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priceoffreedom
2008-11-08 09:00 pm UTC (link)

Elemental or not, Elijah was feeling fatigue set in after the long hours of carrying supplies and walking from one town to the next. He was constantly amazed at the amount of energy the old man had at his disposal. It was the carmot, he said to himself, and he wondered what the effects would be on an elemental. The thoughts were dismissed from his mind, though, when he began to doze off in the same chair that he had settled upon. Elijah vaguely heard the conversation between Aubert and the bartender, with the bartender insisting that the stories were old wives' tales.

Elijah's momentary rest was brought to a sudden end when someone bumped into his chair. He opened his eyes, and brought his head around to glance at the 'culprit'. It was a little girl, and from Elijah's opinion a very unlikely person to find in a tavern of all places. She apologized, and Elijah smiled at her. "What's a little lady like you, doing in a place like this?" He joked with her only because she looked scared, and he wanted to make her feel better. "Don't apologize, you didn't mean to." He suddenly realized that this little girl was alone, and Elijah looked around the tavern for someone who could be this girl's parent.

At that moment, Aubert made his way over toward Elijah's table. The old man looked dejected; apparently, he hadn't found any leads about alchemists in this place, either. Elijah sympathized with the old man, and as he settled down in an empty chair he offered up a weak smile to the young girl. "You wouldn't happen to know of stories about people who make gold, would you?" His voice sounded as old as he looked, but his blue eyes sparkled with exuberance and life. Though Aubert was over 200 years old, he certainly didn't act it.

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constantguard
2008-11-08 11:23 pm UTC (link)

Though he was very sweet and didn't get mad at her, Constance remained wary of the stranger. She hadn't met many good strangers in her short life so far, and it would probably be one of those things that lingered with her for the rest of her life. Strangers, or outsiders, were nothing but trouble. She had already learned this lesson, and yet a part of her couldn't help but stay beside the stranger's chair and stare at him. Constance didn't know for the life of her what had rooted her to the spot, but she couldn't find the will to move her feet.

Shuffling nervously underneath her bulky coat, Constance tilted her head slightly and moved one shoulder up as if to shrug. "My parents are here," she said. "I hid in the back of the truck." It was clear that she wasn't supposed to come here but had found a way to get here. "I wanted to come." If she had been shy, she would have looked down after his insistence not to apologize, but instead she drew her eyebrows together and continued to stare at him. He wasn't from around here. "Where are you from?" Constance asked, crossing her arms a little. Not to look haughty, though; merely just for comfort.

She looked over at the old man who had come over from the bar. He had been the one talking about alchemists. Constance wondered how he knew about them, but she wasn't going to say anything about herself and her family. It was secret between only their people. Outsiders weren't meant to know of their family's great power, a power that had been passed down to her. "Maybe," she said secretively, the sparkle in his eyes eliciting a smile from her and a sense of calm. He seemed like such a nice man. It comforted her, even if he was asking about a sensitive topic that involved her family. It felt like fate. People didn't just walk around asking about something rare that just happened to regard you.

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priceoffreedom
2008-11-09 02:34 pm UTC (link)

Elijah sensed the wariness coming from the girl, and instead of annoying him it brought a small smile to his face. Aubert and he hadn't come across very many young people in their travels; and it was even rarer that they had the chance to speak with one. From the young girl's demeanor, Elijah could tell that she was intelligent and the kind of girl who had a bit of spunk to her. He smiled at her words. "So you're the rebellious type, huh?" Elijah leaned in as if he were telling her a secret. "Me, too." He let out a tired sigh that was in no way directed at the girl. "We came from Vancouver," a place that was a long way from their current position. Anyone could tell that Elijah was tired of traveling, but he was loyal to Aubert, and he did not want to leave the old man to his own devices out in the veritable wilderness. The alchemist's death would mean his own demise, and he wasn't sure if he was ready for that just yet.

Aubert had a kind aura, and a look that screamed 'grandpa' to little children around. There had been a few times when they had called him Santa Claus, and the old man delighted in being compared to him. He played along at times, and even gave them 'gifts' that he made right on the spot. It was dangerous for the old man to reveal his secret so easily to others, but in his old age he was beginning to care less and less about those sorts of things.

The young girl's answer caused a broad smile to appear on Aubert's lips. "Maybe?" He echoed, letting out a short laugh to show his amusement. "Maybe I know a story of my own," he said secretively. "If I tell you mine, maybe then you'll tell me yours, hm? But first, what is your name?" At this point, Aubert was willing to follow any lead he could find, even if it came from a ten-year old girl.

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constantguard
2008-11-10 12:31 am UTC (link)

A smile grew on Constance's face at what Elijah said to her. Constance was the type of her person to make up her own mind, and it was tough to get her to do what she was supposed to do if she wanted to do something else. She wasn't exactly a rebellious type, but she was stubborn. She also liked that he equated himself to her, especially when he was much older and she was just a kid. Not many adults saw her as much of an equal. She was just a kid in their eyes, which made sense. She was only ten years old. Either way, Constance liked the temporary feeling of importance.

She knew the location of Vancouver. It was hard not to know where a big city like that was located, even at a young age. It wasn't very far from here either. "You're from Canada?" she asked, glancing between the two of them. The lesser known cities Constance couldn't have guessed, but Vancouver was easy.

Aubert's answer caused a small laugh to bubble out of Constance. She was grinning openly now, and sidled closer to one of the empty seats at the table. "Maybe," she repeated, still being secretive. She moved to sit down in one of the chairs and raised her chin. "Constance," she said. It hadn't always been her name, but she wasn't supposed to go by her other one anymore. Constance had been her name for four years now. Besides, she knew how to say her original name but not how to spell it. "What's yours?"

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priceoffreedom
2008-11-11 01:53 am UTC (link)

Elijah looked to be twenty years old, he was actually nearing the ripe old age of seventy. It was the advantage of being an elemental; it felt like he had all the time in the world even though he didn't. Elijah also knew that the day Aubert passed away would be the day that he would lose his human body and die as well. He didn't think about it often, but with Aubert's age reaching far past two-hundred Elijah knew that it was only a matter of time before he would pass on.

"That's where we were before we came up here," Elijah explained. The pair had quite the travel record, and it seemed easier to explain their most recent home to the girl than all the other places they had seen in the past. However, he found himself indulging the girl with more information. "I was..." he paused. "Born in Spain." It was such an odd term to use, born, and yet wasn't it partially true? His body was created by the alchemist, and he was bound to the body, but the moment that he was there was a birth of consciousness. He was able to see, hear, and understand what was going on around him. He had a body to experience things, a mind to evaluate it all, and a heart to feel all of the possible human emotions. He was born on that fateful day in 1872, and that incident allowed him to be sitting with the young girl on this day.

"Constance." Elijah repeated the name before Aubert could, smiling lightly. He was milling it over in his head, liking the sound of it. He thought it suited her. "C'est un beau nom," he spoke in French, and Aubert chuckled.

"Elijah, not everyone knows French," he chastised playfully. "I am Aubert Clément, and this is my..." The old man paused. "Grandson, Elijah, and he said that you have a beautiful name, and I agree." Even though Aubert wanted to spread the knowledge of alchemy to others like him, he was still careful about mentioning things like elementals to people. Not many understood what that meant, and it was even harder to explain to someone who wasn't familiar with the world of alchemy. For all Aubert knew, this young girl was just an ordinary girl who probably only knew the legends as bedtimes stories.

"My story is about a boy who grew up in the countryside of France a long time ago. He was from a poor family, and when he was thirteen-years old, not much older than you, Constance, he began his apprenticeship in alchemy." Elijah knew the story by heart now. Aubert had spoken on several occasions about his past, and his beginnings in alchemy. "Alchemy, little one," Aubert continued to Constance. "Is the gift of being able to change things into something more valuable. Times were dark then, and the young man had to study in secret laboratories. But he was dedicated to his studies, and he worked hard to do well. It wasn't long after that that he learned that he possessed the gift to change materials naturally! He didn't have to go through the rigorous alchemic processes for all his transmutations; instead, he could do it through touch alone!"

Aubert smiled brightly, eyes twinkling as he retold his tale to a new audience. His voice was but a whisper in the tavern to avoid others from hearing him. The wizened alchemist continued, "The young alchemist kept the secret from his teacher, working on his talent in private. It grew as he grew, and in the end he was able to form brilliant jewels through touch alone." Aubert reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out small, unassuming rock. He closed his fingers around in, eyes trained upon Constance for a few moments before he unfolded his hand. There, lying in his palm, was a perfect sapphire. He watched for any change in Constance, and he lifted a finger to his lips to indicate that this was a secret.

Aubert took hold of Constance's hand, and turning it so that her palm faced up he placed the sapphire in the bed of her hand. "For you, ma petite fleur." Elijah rolled his eyes at Aubert, not in annoyance, but amusement. The old man was a sucker for young kids in his advanced age, and he often handed out jewels to them as if they were candy. Elijah watched for Constance's reaction, looking for any signs of recognition to the tale.

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constantguard
2008-11-13 11:49 am UTC (link)

"Spain," Constance echoed, her eyes faraway with amazement. Spain was far away, somewhere in Europe. They came all the way from Spain? She suddenly blinked out of her stupor of lost thoughts as Elijah said something in another language that Constance didn't recognize. She reacted physically, tucking in her chin as she sat back a fraction of an inch in her chair, eyes staring at him with curiosity in their depths. Aubert ended her confusion by explaining it to her, and he also introduced himself. Constance relaxed to know what the other man said and tilted her head towards them. "Nice to meet you both," she said politely. Her parents definitely taught her manners.

He began to tell a story, though, and Constance was enraptured with the tale. She listened very intently, eyes lighting up at he mentioned the word alchemy. It was one of the many words for what she was, for what passed down through her family for generations and generations. Constance was amazed to hear of an outsider speak of it. Her eyes trained on the rock he pulled out, his fist closing around it, and the jewel that rested there when he opened his fingers. Constance's eyes grew very wide.

He was like her.

Aubert placed the jewel into her palm, and Constance closed her fingers around it. She looked up at the older man and found herself at a loss for words. What should she say? Should she tell him she was an alchemist, too? Constance bit her lip and looked around for a pebble on the floor. She found one and scooped it up, closing it in her palm and squeezing her eyes shut to focus really hard on it.

When she opened her palm, a little solid-colored green gem sat there. It was now malachite. Constance looked up at him and smiled. She debated for a moment whether or not to tell him. It was okay if she did, she figured, if he was one, too. Constance smiled secretively at Aubert and held a finger up to her mouth as well.

"I can't make anything that costs a lot," Constance said quietly with a shrug. "Not now."

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priceoffreedom
2008-11-17 11:16 am UTC (link)

This was a momentous occasion for the alchemist. He had come from a time when speaking of alchemy was equal to a death sentence, and to be able to speak of it so freely now still amazed him. Aubert smiled at the young girl as her small fingers curled around the jewel. Elijah, too, watched Constance with interest. Her reaction was interesting, something that told the elemental that though she was amazed at what Aubert had done, it was not unfamiliar to her.

It wasn't until the girl picked up a pebble from the ground and transformed it into malachite did it become clear to both the alchemist and elemental. Aubert picked up the mineral between his fingers, and grinned. "Copper carbonite," he said using the scientific name. "Impressive, young one." Elijah was smiling now, too, and he leaned in to Aubert.

"Looks like we finally found what we were looking for," he said kindly. Elijah caught Aubert's eyes as his hand tugged on the bag that contained the journals. The alchemist nodded, knowing what Elijah was asking. The elemental reached into the bag and pulled out five, medium-sized journals. All of them were handwritten, and they contained what Aubert considered the fundamentals of alchemy - research, theory, and techniques. Elijah held them out to Constance.

"Your gift is a secret that I shall take to my grave," said the alchemist. "These are for you," he added. Elijah waited for Constance to take the journals. This was Aubert's show, and he would stay quiet until he was instructed otherwise. Though the elemental had his own mind and opinions, he was still a being created by the alchemist, and thus in his servitude. But he couldn't resist saying just one thing to the young alchemist.

"You'll become a great alchemist one day," Elijah said with a nod of his head. "And when you do, I hope that we will get to meet again."

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constantguard
2008-11-19 01:59 pm UTC (link)

Constance began to fret that she shouldn't have done what she had just done and shown them what she could do. Even if he was an alchemist like her and like her grandfather, it was a secret among their people and not meant to be shared with others. However, her nerves were only shot temporarily. The younger looking man pulled out some journals from a bag with them and handed them over to Constance.

The words of assurance comforted her, too, and she inhaled a deep breath to relax herself. She took the journals from Elijah, but her confusion was clear on her face as she held the worn journals in her small hands. The young girl didn't know what they were for or what was written inside of them.

"What are these?" she asked hesitantly. She still held them above the table, not yet taking them into her lap or laying them out on the wooden surface. She was torn between handing them back or accepting them. Was she just supposed to look at them, or was he giving them to her?

She smiled shyly at Elijah's compliment. She hoped one day she would be a great alchemist. Constance was eager to learn everything from her grandfather. Anything and everything that she possibly could learn from him. "Thank you," she said, hoping maybe one day they would meet again.

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priceoffreedom
2008-11-21 10:22 am UTC (link)

Aubert knew the value of keeping alchemy a secret, and he would not betray the young girl's confidence. The notebooks were meant as a sign of friendship from one alchemist to another, a way for them to share in their glorious gift and to ensure it's survival for many years to come. Aubert looked to Elijah to explain the content of the journals since he had rewritten all of them.

"These are alchemy journals," Elijah said warmly. "Aubert has done tremendous amounts of research over the years, and he wrote down all of his findings." He leaned in a little bit closer to her. "There are secrets of alchemy in here that you would have never dreamed of," he said with a grin. "And he wants you to have them because you are an alchemist." Elijah nudged the journals closer to Constance so that she would not try to give them back. "It's not all of his research, but there is a lot of information in them about alchemy. So make sure you take care of them."

Elijah thought that there might be a chance that Constance would lose the books if she held onto them out in the open. He quickly emptied one of his backpacks and handed it to the girl. "Put the journals in here. You can do whatever you want with them, just don't lose them or give them to anyone who isn't an alchemist."

Elijah sat back in his chair. He looked over at Aubert and smiled. The alchemist was wearing the biggest grin in the world, and he was looking at Constance in awe. Elijah was slightly envious of the young girl - she possessed a gift that he would never be able to have. Though he had knowledge of alchemy, he could do nothing but lab work with it.

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Fin.

constantguard
2008-11-21 09:25 pm UTC (link)

She stared down at the books as she listened to it all being explained further, looking up finally to see Elijah emptying a backpack. Constance was confused and didn't say anything right away, but found herself shaking her head as he handed over the backpack. She shouldn't take it. Her parents would ask where it came from, wouldn't they? But it was a simple backpack, one that shouldn't draw much attention, and Constance bit her lip as she warred in her head over whether or not to take it from him. Finally, she grabbed the bag and slipped the books into it.

It was a big gift to give to a girl her age, and she realized how important these journals must have been. Constance nodded her head slowly to indicate she understood. "I'll take care of them," she said, remembering then that her mother was still waiting for her. Constance's eyes grew wide, and she hurried up from her seat, slinging the backpack over her arm. "I have to go," Constance said quickly. "My mom is waiting."

She was pushing the chair under the table, but paused suddenly in the midst of her actions. Hurrying up to the dark-haired man since he was closest to her, Constance gave him a quick hug. "Thank you," she said as she looked over his shoulder at the older man and smiled at him, too. Then, she ran off into the crowd to find her mother. They wouldn't ask her about the bag. For all they knew, it was hers and she left it in the back of the truck on accident.

It was such a brief meeting, but the two of them would stay in Constance's mind forever. She would show the books to her grandfather once she got the chance. For now, though, she just need to get back to her mother before she began to worry her.

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