Building Strength

[Raziel]

Meals, that was the one time he remembered with his mother. It is, in fact, the one time he could let the coldness slip from his features and relax. After getting three loafs of bread, six small hamburgers with lettuce and a pitcher of orange juice, Raziel moved to the farthest table in the room. He needed something from the materializing he had done earlier, unless he wanted to wind unconcious in the halls. Saying a prayer to the Cosmos, he dug into the food.

[Kelsey Winters]

She sat down next to him, not knowing why she did so, except that he looked lonely. She had a plate of food, but there wasn't much there.

"Hi," she told him.

[Raziel]

Raziel never took his eyes off his food. "Himpth" Dangit, he knew better than to talk with his mouth full. Taking large gulps from the pitcher, he finally downed the clump of bread in his mouth. He wiped his mouth before answering. "*Cough* Ahem! Hi. Want some bread? It's good in yeast." And his mother wondered how he stayed so thin.

[Kelsey Winters]

She shook her head. "No thank you... I usually eat my bread with something rather than straight."

Indeed, of the things she had on her plate, the only 'grain' that wasn't wrapped around a piece of meat was a small bag of Doritos, which she tore open and crunched into happily.

"You've got a lotta food there," she said between chips and a small hamburger.

[Raziel]

Raziel nodded his head. "When I materialize things, it takes away my energy and some calories. I need to eat alot to keep up with the amount of materializing I do."

[Kelsey Winters]

She nodded. "I can understand that... an Alchemist friend used to always get hungry after doing several transmutations."

[Raziel]

Raziel's curiousidy perked at the word 'used'. "You don't talk anymore or something?"

[Kelsey Winters]

"Not for a long time," she said, looking down at her plate. "Sheila moved away a long time ago."

She seemed... sad, somehow, as though the truth were larger than that, as though it hurt more than she let on. She shook her head. "Anyway, there's no use raeally contemplating the past. Gotta move forward, right?" She smiled, and the sadness was shoved aside, covered so smoothly it was almost impossible to believe it had been there. "I really have to send her a letter someday, though," she mentioned. "It'd be great to hear from the old gang..."

[Raziel]

Raziel nodded his head in agreement. "You should. Who knows when you get to talk to old friends again." Drinking the last of the orange juice, Raziel looked down at his plate. There was nothing left but crumbs. "Well," He said, "that was good. Nice talking to you miss...?"

[Kelsey Winters]

"Kel," she replied. "Full name's Kelsey Winters, but it's just Kel to friends. What should I call you?" Her smile was less forced, a difference barely noticeable.

[Raziel]

"Raziel, nothing more. Well, see you later, Kel."

[Kelsey Winters]

"Seeya!" She smiled and waved.