Begg Garrott

Begg Garott (ベグ・ガロット, Begu Garotto) is a former alchemist who was granted immortality aboard the Advena Avis in 1711. He specializes in drug research, which he hopes will someday produce a drug that will make everyone happy. However, by using himself as a test subject for his own drugs, he is no longer able to be affected by his drugs since his immortal body has increasingly built up a resistance to them.

By the late 1930s, Begg has fallen into the employ of the Runorata Family as their primary drug inventor, and in late Dec 1931/early Jan 1932 he protects Czeslaw Meyer from the Runoratas after he loses his explosives prototype he meant to sell to them.

Begg fell into a steep decline in the years following Bartolo Runorata's death in the 1970s; as of August 2002 he is under observation at a hospital, where he relives his happier memories with only minimal interaction with the outside world.

Appearance
Begg has shaggy brown hair and brown eyes, and keeps his beard unkempt. His face is described as haggard and gaunt, and there is something glassy about his gaze.

In the 1700s, Begg keeps his long, dry hair in a ponytail, and his beard is unkempt. He is dressed "like a peddler," and wears a long brown coat and a turban.

By the 1930s, Begg no longer wears a turban, and he wears a green trench coat instead of his long brown coat.

Personality
Begg is a stoic and serious individual who rarely ever smiles. Although he is immortal and does not feel the effects of his drugs anymore, Begg primarily creates drugs with the hope that they will induce happiness in others -- to raise their happiness to 'another level.'

Begg does not trust anyone aside from his fellow immortals (excepting Szilard Quates) and to a lesser extent don Bartolo Runorata of the Runorata Family. To those he does trust, he is quite loyal and kind to. He particularly favors Czeslaw Meyer, whom he was guardian to for many years and regards as family, since Czes' grandfather was his mentor.

Back in the 1700s, Begg was a highly animated individual, speaking at an extremely rapid pace without pausing for breath. This is totally opposite of how he speaks in the 1930s -- slow and stuttering, with noticeable pauses between words. Initial signs of the transition can be traced back as early as 1711, when his tongue began freezing up while he spoke (a side effect of the experimental drugs he'd been injecting himself with).

Begg has exhibited a bit of a devious streak over the years. In the 1700s, he neglected to take responsibility for the sorrow that his drugs caused, only that he made them. In the 1930s, he openly mocks and laughs at his Runorata colleague Gustavo Bagetta and looks down upon him without fear of retaliation - perhaps secure in the safety of his immortality. His deviousness has extended to cold-heartedness upon occasion, including his desire to make Roy Maddock a guinea pig and his threatening of Edith (he held a gun to her head) to place Roy under duress.

The incident with Roy (that Begg was responsible for) - in which Begg wanted to help him but at the same time was embroiled in feelings of self-denial and hatred, not wanting to forgive the man - speaks to the more complicated facets of Begg's personality, especially in how he decided to shoot himself in the head in order to give Roy and Edith the chance to escape before he could act on his feelings of upset.

It is also that incident - or perhaps, the incident of February 1935 that profoundly affects Begg's motivation and view of the world: full of despair, he loses all vigor towards his ambitions and simply creates whatever new drugs Bartolo wanted, loyal only to him.

Following Bartolo's death around 1972, Begg becomes completely indifferent to the events happening around him and retreats into his own mind. He does not respond to others, though it is unclear as to whether he actually can't hear them, or simply won't. In his interactions with Maiza in 2002, it is revealed that he spends much of his time in this state reliving his happiest memories, including his time with Czes aboard the Advena Avis.

1705: The Ironic Light Orchestra
In 1705, Begg is seen conversing with "Aile." It is revealed that he is is the one responsible for creating the drugs that had been injected into Niki, and that he had done so under the command of Aile's father. Begg proceeds to explain that his teacher's grandson is the sole heir to the Meyer Family after an accident claimed the lives of his parents, and that Begg is going to help Fermet raise him. Aile silently wonders if all alchemists are like Begg.

1710-1711
(Under construction)

1932: Drug and the Dominos
(Further details forthcoming)

By the 1930s, Begg has come into the employ of Bartolo Runorata, and is the Runoratas primary apothecary. Bartolo has given him the ultimate word on the creation and movement of Runorata drugs.

In 1931, Begg writes a letter to Czes and informs him that he is interested in buying Czeslaw's explosives for the Runoratas, an arrangement that Czeslaw agrees to. In early December of the same year, Maiza arranges a meeting with Begg and requests that he stop distributing drugs in Martillo territory. Begg agrees - much to Maiza's relief - and thanks Maiza for not 'eating' him, leading the Maiza to chastise him for even thinking of such a thing. As a result of their meeting, the Martillos create a temporary truce with the Runoratas and friction grows between Begg and Gustavo, the latter of whom is furious at the loss of profit.

That month, Begg's main concern is locating a black case which contains his latest drug prototype - one worth a lot of money, The case was stolen in transit by a young druggie, one that the Runoratas eventually identify as Roy Maddock. Begg takes a great interest in Roy - who has unusually strong reactions to drugs - and wants him to test the drug and become his guinea pig. When Begg eventually crosses paths with Roy and his girlfriend Edith, he seizes Edith and holds a gun to her head, threatening to kill her if Roy does not dose himself with the drug (one that may very likely kill him, but one that Begg hopes will bring him joy as he dies).

Roy chooses an alternative and attempts suicide, first injecting himself with the drug and then immediately slitting his wrist -- and as blood spurts out of the wound he demands that Begg release Edith. Begg is incredibly shaken, his world upheaved as he finds himself having to decide between two choices he finds anathema: if he lets Edith go, Roy will likely die smiling and totally defeat the purpose of Begg's drug; if he kills Edith, Roy will die without hope or happiness. Neither choice is what he wants, and he sinks into self-denial, filled with intense anger and hatred. Although he doesn't want to forgive Roy, he still wants to help him no matter what.

Internally, he begs an absent Maiza to tell him what to do, and wonders if this is what Maiza met when he talked about an "impoverishment of the soul" in their earlier meeting. In the next moment, he shoves Edith towards Roy and aims the gun's muzzle at at his own head. To Roy, he says that it's not too late for Roy to save his life if he goes to the hospital now while Begg regenerates. He warns Roy and Edith to escape quickly, for if things continue like this he will kill the two of them.

With that, a gunshot goes off.

Later on December 31, Begg meets with Czes in a bypass near a train station. Czes, who has just arrived in New York on the Flying Pussyfoot, asks Begg if he has met with Maiza. Begg nods, positively beaming at seeing Czes again. Czes prepares to tell Begg his bad news, but Begg has already heard. The explosives - which Czes had smuggled aboard the Flying Pussyfoot, were stolen in transit. Czes notes that the explosives can't be made public - they mustn't be allowed to fall into the hands of the police, and worries that he'll still be hunted by the Runorata Family for his failure.

Begg smiles a little and shakes his head, informing Czeslaw that he was the one who paid for Czes' explosives in full, and that Bartolo wasn't involved with the transaction in any way. Czes won't be punished in the slightest. Czes is surprised, and asks why. Begg explains that he'd heard about Czes' 'situation' from the information brokers, and that he'd wanted to help Czes but couldn't directly give him money. Czes' face twists up with emotion, and he replies that Begg is "such a good person" who "hasn't changed at all."

Begg says that Czes is 'too kind', and that ever since he gave up becoming an alchemist all he's had to date is money. He still hasn't found the happiness he's chased after, so all he can do now is just to make Czes smile so brightly like he's doing now. Sorrow flashes across Czes' smiling face, and he tells Begg that "that's plenty enough" and thanks him as the two embrace. Begg strokes Czeslaw's hair, and the boy thanks him for not eating him. Begg begins to cry as well, and warns Czes that if he says something like that again he'll be angry (using a similar wording to what Maiza had told him in their meeting).

1935
In February 1935, Begg enters a contract with Huey Laforet to design a certain drug for him - something in the same realm as the immortality elixir. One night, Begg places glass containers of the completed 'drug' into a large bag and hauls them to a building (the same one where Huey and Fermet are conversing). Under his breath, he calls Huey a bastard and wonders if the man is serious, "making me...make...this..." and with a small smile on his face he apologizes to an absent Maiza and Czes, acknowledging that he isn't an ethical researcher after all and that he wants to see his drug change the world.

1970s-2002
When Bartolo dies around 1972, Begg's mental state deteriorates and he retreats into the safety of his own mind, indifferent and unresponsive to the world around him. By the early 2000s, he is in the care of a New Jersey hospital, his medical fees paid for by national charities and one "Mr. Genoard" while he was still alive. For a while, he undergoes drug therapy until the nurses conclude that it has no effect on him. The FBI are aware of his presence at the hospital and have ordered hospital staff to "not care about him."

In August 2002, Czeslaw and Maiza travel to the hospital by car. Czes elects to stay in their vehicle, and Maiza pays Begg a visit alone, sitting next to him in his room and remarking upon how today's drugs are leagues more powerful than anything Begg ever created. After that, he speaks to Begg of many things and calls his name multiple times, but no light ever enters Begg's eyes.

Slowly, Maiza raises his right hand and reaches over to Begg's forehead, believing him to be forever lost to darkness. In the instant before he places his palm on Begg's forehead, Begg speaks. ".....Czes, your side.....the hull......look.......look quick......this boat.......is going to America....." Maiza lowers his right hand, and states that he'll come back to visit Begg again. As Maiza stands, Begg - in his halting manner - thanks Maiza for not eating him. The nurse monitoring them is startled to hear Begg speak, but Begg lapses back into silence. Maiza leaves soon thereafter.

Relationships
Czeslaw Meyer: Czes is the grandson of Begg's alchemy teacher and as such, Begg looks out for him like family. When Czeslaw was orphaned, Begg and Fermet became his guardians and raised him together - further cementing Begg's important role in Czes' life and vice-versa.

Though Czes is extremely wary of other immortals in the 20th century, Begg still remains in contact with him, and personally meets with him to help him and give him moral support. To Begg, Czeslaw is someone who he holds very close to his heart and cares deeply for. Case in point -- Begg's happiest memories are of him and Czeslaw exploring the Advena Avis together.

Trivia

 * Begg has a cameo in Episode 07 of the 2007 anime as one of the thirty alchemists aboard the Advena Avis. In the same episode, he is shown in a still image years later, concocting drugs at a table.