slayers_desire | the case of the disappearing daughters ((Ed thread))

Ed's trying his best with regular old mundane tools, but that's not really something he's good at. That's more Winry's area of expertise. But still... Teacher always taught him and Al that they should only use Alchemy to fix things when they couldn't fix them by hand.

So... for once he's showing some restraint, only using Alchemy to rebuild the community center when he can't find another solution. But still, every now and then there are the occasional clapping sounds and flashes of blue light. Hopefully that won't alarm anyone; he always tries to make sure no-one's watching whenever he transmutes, but you never know.

He's in the process of helping to secure some rafters at the moment, using his balance and dexterity to their advantage. For a moment, as he perches on one of said rafters, transmuting two broken beams together, it's almost like he's in a game of Assassin's Creed.

"Yo! Prat! You got a light?" Spike walks into the room behind him, of course picking the exact wrong moment to ask for something so minor.

A scowl promptly crosses Ed's face, and he calls down to Spike, "I don't smoke. Can't transmute fire, either; that was my C.O.'s specialty." He finishes the last of his repairs to the rafters and swings down out of them, executing a three-point landing with a mild grunt. He's not wearing his coat today, just one of his waist-length jackets along with the usual leather trousers and sleeveless shirt. And, of course, the white gloves. He doesn't want to freak anyone out with his Automail.

Spike watches him swing down, a little amused by the three-point landing. "Damn. Guess I will have to suffer."

"Father, I thought you quit." April mentions from the doorway.

"Easier said than done pet."

Ed sighs a little. "Personally, I've never understood why anyone starts," he mutters under his breath, surveying the room, looking for more areas that need repairing.

"It was the fad when I was human." Spike shrugs. His vampire hearing allowed him to hear what was said. He is still measuring up Ed in a fashion.

Ed shrugs and finds a section of wall that needs some attention. "It's your choice to make," he says evenly. Then he quips, a note of good-natured humor in his voice, "Guess you don't have to worry about getting cancer, though." Part of the wall's collapsed, so Ed finds the missing bricks and transmutes any that are broken back together before going to find some mortar. If he can't find it, he'll transmute that too, but repair the wall by hand.

"You know, you and I should spar some time."

"Father?" April glanced at Spike after his statement.

Ed turns to him, and smiles. "Sure," he says. "I'm usually up for a good sparring match. Now's probably not a good time"—he gestures to the wall he's working on—"but maybe later on?"

"So no worries pet. He knows it won't get serious. Just a match." Spike seems content with the offer.

There is a knock at the door, an elderly lady is there, looking around for someone in charge.

"Practice fight," Ed agrees. "Gauging my combat abilities for yourself, I'm guessing," he adds to Spike.

He turns his head in the direction of the door when he hears the knock and gets to his feet when he sees the elderly woman. "Ma'am?" he asks. "Something we can help you with?"

"You betcha... of course, I think I can take you." Spike chuckles. He scratches at his pocket for a moment. Still looking for that elusive light.

"I was looking for Lorne. To see if he has seen Natasha." The elderly woman seems shy. Scared.

"We'll see," Ed says, nothing antagonistic there, just self-confidence.

"I haven't seen him, but I'm sure he's around somewhere," Ed tells her. "Is... Natasha your daughter?"

"Granddaugther. I have been raising her... since my daughter died last year. She has never broken curfew before."

"Why would Lorne know where she is?" Spike questioned.

"She works for him. Not the bar, she is underage. But she clears tables."

"I'm sorry to hear that, ma'am," Ed says quietly. "When did you see her last?"

"Yesterday, after she finished her homework, she headed to work. Natasha is a good girl... she works hard to help with the bills."

Ed nods, smiling. "Sounds like she's doing her best to make sure you have as little to worry about as possible." He looks back at Spike and April. "I guess we should see if we can find Lorne, then. Maybe he's seen her. If he hasn't, he might have an idea of where to start looking."

"He will be at the club. I will go get him." Spike offered.

April offered the woman a place to sit. "Have you checked with any of her friends?" The woman nodded. "No one has seen her."

"Thanks," Ed tells Spike with a small nod. Then he goes to sit with April and the woman, making a thoughtful noise as he does. "April," he asks, "have you heard of anything like this happening to anyone else recently? Family members just... up and disappearing without cause?"

It sounds as though they may have a mystery on their hands. Ed's Investigator Mode is starting to wake up.

"I am a little disconnected from the neighborhood Ed. But I can find you someone who knows more than I do." April offered.

"She is a good girl... a good girl..."

Ed takes the woman's hand gently in his and squeezes a little. "We'll find her," he assures her. Then he turns to April and nods. "That would be good... Lorne might know if this has been a pattern of late too."

April leaves to find someone more familiar with the neighborhood. After a few moments, Lorne and Spike enter the community center.

"Diane! What is this I hear? Natasha is missing?" Lorne immediately goes over to the elderly woman.

"Have you seen her Lorne? Have you seen her?"

"She left work at 11 p.m., just like clockwork. That was the last I saw her."

"She hasn't been home, apparently," Ed adds to Spike and Lorne. "From what Diane's said, it seems out of character for Natasha to decide to just... leave without any warning. Do either of you know if something similar has been happening lately to other families? April's looking for someone familiar with what's been going on in the neighborhood, but I wanted to see if you guys knew anything."

Lorne glanced at Spike, who shook his head. "Not mine, mate. They have an accord right now."

"There was a man with a very sorrowful song in the bar last week. He lost a daughter." Lorne thought back. Trying to remember more.

Ed's ears perk up a bit at that (metaphorically speaking). But he gives Lorne some time to try to remember more details, rather than badgering him about it. "Anything at all that you can remember might be helpful," he says, and then falls silent until Lorne speaks again.

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