Flask and Number 23 in “Unfinished Business”

Young man. Hey, you there!

Oh no!

It’s alright. Look, over here.

Um, yeah?

Hey, now, can’t you at least bring yourself to ask a little surprised or something?

What do I get for acting surprised?

You show no fear. I like that. What’s your name?

I’m number 23.

Not your number. I want you to tell me your real name.

I’m a slave, I don’t have one.

A slave? You mean a person without any rights or freedoms? Someone trafficked and deeded as a possession?

Deeded? What’s that?

It’s when a piece of property is transferred to another person.

Huh?

Seems you’re not all that bright. Are you?

Hey! Get out of here!

How could I have possibly been born from someone as stupid as you?

Hmm?

You are the one who gave me blood, right?

Uh! I guess so. He said he was going to use it for an experiment…

I exist today, because you gave me your blood. Thank you… Let’s see… Number 23 isn’t going to cut it. I think I’ll give you a name of your own.

Give me a name? Who are you?

You’ll want a noble sounding one, right? Let’s see… Theo! Theophrastus Bombastus!

That’s too long!

Huh? Oh, yeah. You’re not that smart. Maybe we shouldn’t put too many syllables in it.

Hey you, I’m plenty smart!

Well, how about Van? Van Hohenheim! How does that sound?

So Van Hohenheim, huh? I think I can remember that.

It’s spelled- Oh… You don’t know how to read and write, do you?

I don’t need to read and write to do my work.

Your slave work.

Uh…

Don’t you even want freedom? Are you going to live out the rest of your life as a slave, without the rights of a real man? In that case you’re no different from me, trapped inside this stuffy flask… Let me teach you, Van Hohenheim.

Hey, what are you? Who are you? What do I call you?

I’ll tell you what Van Hohenheim; you can call me the Dwarf in the Flask, Homunculus.