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Alfons Heiderich

Real Name: Alfons Heiderich
Room: M48
Roommate: Hitachiin Hikaru
Age: 17
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Height: 5'1"

History
Alfons Heiderich's life truly began as a college student under Professor Hermann Oberth, a brilliant- yet eccentric- rocket scientist in Munich. Alfons studied under the man because they shared a vision: that of life beyond the stars, and of using man's ingenuity to create a working rocket to study that life. Alfons's goal was a bit more specific, though; he wanted to create a rocket that could actually transport someone to the stars, and prove- as the year was 1921- that the German spirit had not been broken even after their defeat in the Great War.

This determination to escape the world's clutches eventually attracted one Edward Elric, a prodigy in the field of chemistry and who immediately encouraged Alfons and Hermann both to continue their research. Alfons was smitten by the stranger, though he had no idea why that was, and soon a friendship started that would last until Alfons's dying day. In short order Alfons invited Edward to come live with him, an offer which Edward happily accepted.

Meeting with Edward heralded the start of a strange phenomenon; that of inexplicably intense dreams. The dreams were of another world entirely, and in those dreams Alfons found himself equally as inexplicably involved with the world. Though he couldn't interact with the world as he would have wished, he met with someone who looked a great deal like Edward, who treated him with more kindness and love than any human had, and Alfons's crush deepened to a genuine love of his research partner.

That love was destined to be thwarted. Edward, as soon as he'd learned about the dreams, began spending all of his free time with Alfons, telling the German about the strange world and everything in it. In those stories, Edward's younger brother- Alphonse Elric- figured prominently and was always spoken of in the most glowing of terms, the impossible being accomplished because the two Elrics worked together. It was outlandish, frankly impossible for the younger boy's world, and so Alfons rejected the stories as mere yarns that Edward was telling him as entertainment. That began a downward spiral in what had been an otherwise enjoyable life.

Soon thereafter, Alfons was informed that his constant work with rockets and their toxic exhaust had poisoned his lungs; the condition was both incurable and undeniably lethal. The young man was given a few years to live.

The diagnosis ignited a fire in Alfons. He devoted himself to his rocketry, determined to make his mark on the world so that he would never be forgotten. Edward, initially pleased by the burst of enthusiasm, soon cooled his own passions when he realized what had happened. While the younger blond felt some pain over Edward starting to ignore their rocketry and claim that Alfons was just a part of 'a dream' that the older was experiencing, and even said that the world was a hell because Alfons wasn't like Alphonse.

In the end, Alfons had no option but to rely on other sources. Al contacted a secret society known as the Society of Thule, and begged for funding to finish his dream before he died. After a successful test flight- which Edward didn't bother attending- Alfons was granted all of the funding he would need, and soon began working even harder. Time was running out, and he knew it.

But despite knowing his own mortality he still was polite to the gypsy girl, Noa, that Edward had brought home. While he was skeptical of her powers- she claimed to be able to read minds- he was polite and expressed happiness that Edward finally had someone else that he was reaching out to. While the Elric had, during this time, encountered and befriended a police officer by the name of Maes Hansine, the fact that Ed had a friend his own age was considered a good thing.

The Society of Thule, represented by Rudolf Hess, soon informed Alfons that he would be conducting his tests in the basement of a grand castle, and without question the German began his work there. Several successful attempts later, he began work on a full-sized rocket, one large enough to carry a man to space. At the Society's request, he also began constructing an even larger airship, one that could carry a small army; the deadline of November 8 was ludicrous, and yet Alfons was certain that his indomitable spirit would carry him through.

His work consumed every waking moment he had. When he returned home to pack his things so he could work without having to take more breaks than absolutely necessary, the tension between himself and Edward finally reached a boiling point. The older boy demanded that Alfons stop his work, claiming that the Society was going to wage a war against Edward's homeland. And when Edward tried to restrain Alfons physically, the younger man violently shook him off. "I don't have the time," he whispered, and left with those words.

Alfons's devotion to his work finally enabled him to finish both rockets by the due date, and he looked on in amazement as the Society unveiled their masterpiece. A grand Gateway, an array that would enable the conquest of a world called 'Shambala'. And, of course, Edward was in the middle of the trouble, knocked unconscious by the Society.

Now that his dream had been accomplished, Alfons decided to do one last thing for his dear friend. He dragged Edward into the unused single-person rocket, and secured Edward in before finally saying his feelings. "I care and I make mistakes. I may not live much longer but I'll still be here. Just don't forget me." With those words he ran off to make the rocket take Edward to his own world, and Alfons couldn't help a smile as he watched Edward leave. Even though it pained him, knowing that Edward was going where he belonged and where he might be happy was everything to Alfons.

He was destined to die with that smile on his face. Rudolf Hess, enraged at Alfons's apparent betrayal, shot the blond from behind. Alfons fell to the ground, and by the time Noa and Maes had found him, his body was already cold.

Personality

Despite living in the harshness of the Weimar Republic, or perhaps because of it, Alfons Heiderich is defined by his combination of kindness, strength, and flaws; in addition, his relationship to Edward contributes a great deal to his emotional state, almost to as great an extent as Alphonse Elric's.

Like his alter, Alfons is a selfless and altruistic individual. He immediately accepts Noa, despite not knowing her personally and despite her Roma origins, taking her into his home and making her feel as welcome as he can. He's kind, courteous, and seems to take a genuine joy from making others happy. While he isn't as quick with a gentle word of encouragement as Alphonse is, he is perhaps even faster to provide what aid he can; whether it's a hot meal or the simple knowledge that someone cares- not something to be taken lightly in a country crushed by the ravages of war.

Of special note is his understated but no less real love of cute, fuzzy creatures. While financial constraints- and later a crushing workload- prevented him from ever owning a kitten or a puppy of his own, Alfons has a soft spot for the cute and the helpless. And yes, he has been teased that it was that love which had him 'adopting' Edward in the first place.

But unlike Alphonse, Heiderich grew up alone and didn't have an older brother to rely on. Therefore, he tends to be much stronger when he's in his element; his emotions are kept on the inside where they can't hurt others, and he can be almost tireless when he feels the need for something to be accomplished. He is driven and will do a great deal for people he feels deserve it, and even with his body betraying him he is still capable of remarkable feats simply because of that determination.

Yet flaws ruin what might have been a perfect example of what Alphonse Elric could hope to be. Alfons is a child of his time; the supernatural is comfortably far-off, and while he believes in other worlds he also believes that said worlds are as rational and mundane as his own. His ability to hide his emotions can sometimes result in him isolating others or simply make a problem worse, and his determination can mean he will continue on that course even when it pains him. Alfons's debilitating condition- which can paralyze him with fits of wracking coughs and stain his hands with blood- has also cast his world into sharp relief. He insists that he can take care of himself, and when he inevitably needs help in some form or another it can be quite difficult for him to ask for it. He's extremely sensitive about his condition and failings as well; he doesn't speak about them when he doesn't have to, he rarely explains what he's going through, and unless events force the issue he prefers to suffer in silence than 'prove' how weak he truly is.

At Landel's

Alfons's time at Landel's has not been a pleasant one thus far. His first meeting with Edward Elric resulted in the Edward claiming that Alfons was a servant of the Institute and there only to betray all of them, and despite Maes Hughes's best efforts both teenagers were severely hurt in the exchange that followed. Alfons left, betrayed and heart-broken that Edward hadn't remembered him like he'd nearly begged the boy to.

Soon thereafter he encountered Kaylee, a female mechanic who was quite successful in bringing Alfons out of his depression and get him to open up about the situation. The discussion about their respective problems and worlds was shot through with talk of mechanics, and the two parted with both feeling like they had found a kindred spirit.

Roy Mustang later approached Alfons, and explained to the best of his ability what the Institute was like and how the Edward Alfons knew and the Edward which had hurt the German were not necessarily the same. Roy promised to help Alfons talk sense into the Fullmetal Alchemist, and also agreed to let the boy tag along for the night's adventures. The boy was truly moved that another seemed to think that he wasn't useless, despite his lack of combat skills, and even moreso that a complete stranger was willing to help him.

'Help' being a relative term. That night was a disaster; though it started promisingly enough, with Alfons offering to serve as a lock-picker for the combination of Maes and Roy- the former of whom quickly patched up matters with the boy- Alfons was destined to have a rough night. Alessa possessed Alfons when the boy gave her a hug in exchange for letting the others go. The trauma of that possession, the mental poking and torment from Alessa, and the triggering of a violent coughing episode which resulted in Alessa being expelled from his body in pain-filled heaves, all conspired to make his mind completely blank. He remembers nothing of the entire night, and it might be better for him that way.

jade_pen	Latest page update: made by jade_pen , Feb 22 2007, 1:05 AM EST (about this update About This Update Edited by jade_pen 3 words added view changes - complete history)
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