Part One, since they requested this a long time ago and wanted Royai and Elrics first.
Roy is one of the biggest Slytherins I’ve ever seen. He’s ambitious as all hell, and more over, completely believes in his ability to reach the top, and that he should. And his plans are very careful, very intricate. The codes he’s developed with his team, the way he calculates potential allies and enemies. Not to mention that all the chess analogies are not super subtle in indicating cunning and strategy. You can also look at his recruitment of Ed as a real good like, showcase of all of these traits. He heard of a gifted alchemist and went after them; he knows that recruiting a talented alchemist will give him points with the higher ups. Even finding out that the alchemists in question are children doesn’t deter him. Roy Mustang sees an eleven year old boy in a wheelchair and says, “YOU SHOULD JOIN THE ARMY.” As much as I truly believe that he loves and cares for the boys, he also didn’t recruit Ed out of some sort of selfless belief that it would truly be best for them. He also values cleverness in other people, he’s always very proud of his team when they figure things out or are all sneaky sneak with him. Examples of this include his pleased reaction to Breda pointing out the holes in the Maria Ross sotry and his willingness to go along with the Elric’s homunculi fishing. He’s all like “u pulled one on me v clever boys I have taught u well”
Riza is very close to a Gryffindor, but I put her in Hufflepuff. I think her most defining trait is her patience. Just the fact that she’s a sharpshooter; you have to wait for the shot to line up, you have to wait for it to be perfect. Also, she’s put up with Roy for a long time, that takes a ton of patience. She balances him out, she’s the patient, clear headed one in the fight versus Envy. And her loyalty to Roy is unwavering. “Into hell.” And loyalty is something she values highly. I always think it’s important to remember that sortings are also based on the values a person holds, not just on their traits. Riza values loyalty so much, it in herself, and in other people. Her speech to Winry is beautiful, and a good explanation of her belief system. Winry takes what she said to heart, and that kind of impression doesn’t come when someone isn’t 100% committed to what they’re saying. She’s also a very hard worker, something encourages in the people around her. As much as they all grumble about her pushing them to work, her boys get it done. I think she also has a trait that I find very Hufflepuff, which is respecting people greatly once they earn her respect. She respects Edward and Al as adults, the fact that she calls Roy out on not telling them about Hughes is a very Hufflepuff thing to do.
As for Ed, edward elric is the most gryffindor to ever gryff. Like he can be brash and rude, but it’s a cover. He experienced the cruelty of the world at an unbelieveably young age. He lost his mother at age five, and knew that the world wasn’t fair. At age eleven he learned what a mistake costs, and how painful the world could be. AS FOR NERVE, this is the boy who, at age eleven, decided to undergo major surgery, surgery that even adults shy away from. “There was fire in those eyes.” He went through surgery and rehabilitation in a third of the time he should have because he was so fucking determined. Edward Elric performs surgery on himself because he can’t just sit back and bleed to death on a pole. He digs up the grave of what he thinks i his mother, despite being in intense physical and emotional pain. There’s also a lot of narrative symbolism with the automail and the “nerves of steel” idea, because Edward does really embody what it means to have nerve. He tackles problems head on, takes these bold moves and beatings because he knows he can withstand them. This is also an example of what I like to call the patented "so brave it’s stupid” gryffindor policy. And this plays into his chivalry, because he’d rather take the hits instead of someone else. greed pretty much nails it with, “oh you’re one of those guys. you don’t care if you get beat on but if someone lays a hand on a friend of family member you completely flip out”. He jumps in front of Winry to protect her from Scar. At age FIVE he took it upon himself to become a parental figure for his younger brother. I don’t know if it’s possible to explain how big a decision this is unless you’ve gone through it, but looking at your younger sibling and knowing that you would anything for them is sacrificing a part of yourself, and your happiness...that protector instinct is very Gryffindor. “Take my heart, take anything! Just give him back! He’s my little brother!” Gryffindors are also very dedicated to what they think is Right, and Ed shows this a lot; in Liore, when Ed worries to Riza about Mustang’s gang facing consequences when he knows they’re good people, yelling about the fairness of Roy having to pay a toll, he actually completely reinvites his entire belief system in one moment as soon as he realizes that hypocritical nature. Because he true belief system isn’t equivlent exchange, but Do Right. And honestly, the whole journey they embark on is the definition of daring as well as the gold standard of the "so brave it’s stupid” gryffindor policy. Ed’s mantra of “keep moving forward” is very indicative of how highly he values bravery in other people, picking yourself up and going forward is often the hardest, scariest thing to do. But what this all comes down to is that, in his most true, climatic moments, edward elric went into someone’s soul just so he could punch them in the face and then proceeded to punch a god out of existence with his bare fists and that’s probably the most gryffindor thing I’ve ever heard of.
I think my Al sorting was the one that wsa most disagreed with in the reactions on my sets, but I stick by it. Becuase Alphonse Elric is not only probably the most chivalrous person to ever exist, but is also a huge fan of “so brave it’s stupid”. I also think that people tend to underestimate Al, and forget that he’s been going toe to toe with Ed’s stubbornness and recklessness his entire life. Al points out a lot IN THE SERIES that he is equally to blame for the Great Transmutation Fiasco of 1910, he wasn’t some sort of passive participant being dragged along by Ed. Alphonse Elric is the embodiment of “seems like a cinnamon roll, but could actually kill you”. Chivalry is something I think that Alphonse both values, and has in spades. “I’m not going to let anyone else die, not when I can protect them!” Alphonse Elric is LITERALLY A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR, the choice of armor for his soul isn’t a blind narrative one. It’s very symbolic, and encompasses his protective instincts, and bravery, and brings to mind all the classic traits of knights. He jumps in front of Riza when facing Lust, May when Father explodes stuff, and Ed constantly. He’s willing to sacrifice himself a lot. In the final battle, but he’s also brave and sacrificial enough to trap himself in that dome thing with Pride. (I also think it’s worth nothing that in the manga, that when he’s about to sacrifice himself, instead of saying, “keeping moving, brother” like in the anime, he says “YOU BETTER WIN, BROTHER”.) He’s incredibly stubborn (willfulness is often a Gryff trait), and for Alphonse, this kind of manifests in his chivalry. He refuses to let people die because he doesn’t want them too. He can’t envision giving up, so when people do, he gets them back up on their feet. Also no one’s getting through Izumi’s training without being stubborn af, lbr. He shares Ed’s commitment to The Right Thing To Do; setting aside his goals and wishes so he can be more useful in the final fight, trying so hard to save Martel, exposing Cornello. Even things like throwing himself in to the Lust hunt with Roy and Co and going out in the storm to warn the other group of the central forces at Briggs. Going on this whole crazy adventure is brave, the biggest, most Gryffindor trait of all. He walks into Father’s lair earlier than anyone else, which is pretty much a perfect example of the "so brave it’s stupid” creed. What was his plan there honestly that he’ll just yell at Father until he gets Ed back? Also Alphonse Elric on multiple occasions tried to take down an major enemy solo (Lust, Scar, and Pride), what a brave lil dumbass
…AU where Berthold Hawkeye pulls a Shou Tucker His...
Damn. Now I want to write this story. But what animal would Berthold combine Riza with? Hawk is the obvious choice, but is there anything else?
Yeah hawk is a pretty obvious choice, one which I personally like, despite it’s obviousness. But I just want to see a winged!Riza with some nasty talons for hands so I’m pretty bias .
Hmm wolf? Like a dog but more wild, which would be another Tucker parallel. Plus canines would play into the loyalty theme Riza has going on with Roy, as well as being a play on words with the “dog of the military” thing. They call her and Roy (and company) dogs, but they are anything but loyal to the standing government, wolves that people think are tamed but aren’t. Kind of like the “bears of the north” Briggs has going on...
It would have to be an animal that would relatively accessible to a non-state alchemist, so no lions or gorillas.
...Or we could have both, why stop at just his daughter when he has a student as well? (hawk for Riza, wolf for Roy?)
It would give both Roy and Riza a goal in common with the Elrics: To get their normal bodies back.
Along with democratizing Amestris too, of course.
But having Roy angst over not stopping it is too great/horrible so I kinda lean more towards just Riza...
When you get this, reply with 5 things that make you happy and send it to the last 10 people you have notes from in your activity!
Aaah, thank you for sending this to me :3
1) My niece. Especially when she’s happy and smiling. There’s no bigger joy.2) Making other people happy3) Royai (no joke, I just love this couple so much)4) Fluffy kitties. I love cats so much! It’s the best when they let you pet them or snuggle up next to you even though they give you the cold treatment most of the time. 5) Success? I’m happy when I do something good and people appreciate it. I get overly happy when someone tells me a story of mine is good.
