Welcome to Gaia! ::

((I suppose we should wait for Adine-san to do something and arrive before we go on...))

Alphonse watched as Ash picked up Sheska's books, as though this were normal when in her presense. His thoughts wandered a little as he considered that all these people seemed like they had grown closer, and he more distant in the last few years.

It's not like I have been around to foster any kind of friendships. I have been so busy trying to get Edward back that I have left everyone one else behind. After all that...

He snapped out of his reverie in time to make a slightly latent response to Sheska's question.

"Well... that is... I have not really seen anything of this city since I arrived. It's been raining seince I arrived here this afternoon."

Winry's eyes fell upon Al as he tangled himself in his thoughts, and she gnawed the inside of her lower lip. There were so many things she wished she could tell him... but it would only confuse him. It was, at times, downright frustrating.

A small sweatdrop rolled down the side of her face when he replied to Sheska, mentioning they hadn't gone sightseeing by cause of the rain. What the hell was with this rain, anyway? Blasted downpour for no specific reason, sticking around Central like an annoying stray dog.



Another sweatdrop found its way down the side of Winry's face. Ahh, the space-case that was Sheska. She sighed a little, smiling at Al.

"We may have to take you up on that offer once this god-awful rain lets up. How long has it been raining like this, anyway, Sheska-san?"

Winry grinned a little.

"Least one of us is, hmm? I'd rather be buried in automail!" She laughed nervously, trying to lighten the mood she hadn't realized had grown dark like the skies until she'd spoken.

Winry's face flushed a bright salmon, and she swatted at Sheska's elbow jokingly.

"Well I'm sorry if I spend more time in the shop and giving invalids new limbs than I do cooking..." She puffed up her cheeks a little at the older woman, then smiled, teasing. "And what about yours, hmmm?" This time, it was Winry's turn to nudge.

Winry grinned.

"Has she really? Well that's good... we all know Glacier-san is the best at cooking... so she's the best to teach!" Winry's smile threatened to split her face in two, remembering Glacier and her spunky daughter, Elysia. Her smile faded a moment when her mind travelled to Maes, but she didn't let it stray for long. She popped her hip and let her hand rest on it, giving a sassy look to Sheska. "What kind of recipes?"




((Just to let you know, it's Al that's there with Winry. Ed's around there somewhere, but Winry, Ash and Al haven't run into him yet. sweatdrop ))

Winry beamed, and nodded, clasping her hands together.

"That would be great, Sheska-san. I'd love to see how your cooking has improved...!" She looked over at Al, thinking perhaps he was feeling a little out of place in the conversation. "Ne, Al?"

Winry's eyes travelled to Ashtoreth, and she eyed Al again after a moment's hesitation.

"This is Ashtoreth, Sheska-san. She was a friend of Al's, when they were younger...?" Her sentence trailed off into question, her eyes travelling back to Al, as if asking if her comment were true.

Winry nodded, and stepped over to the shelf where Sheska had lain her books, plucking a pile of them from the shelf and cradling them in her arms.

"You'll have to lead the way... I don't know my way around in here."

Alphonse watched the two girls chatter between themselves, seeing just how well they knew each other, but it was like they had not spoken in a while. They were like close friends a few years back who were comparing the past and present and touching base with each other. The more he tried to become a part of what they said, the more he realized he was an outsider.

He followed along as the two walked towards the east wing, wondering where Edward might be right now. He tried not to think about all that might be going on, and concentrated instead on what was happening in front of him.

I can't get all emotional in front of Winry and her friend. I know that this will all work out somehow, and that if Ed really is here I'll find him. Until then, I can just keep going as if... as if...

Al brushed a tear away with his sleeve, trying to cover that he was sad, and being bad about it. He stayed a few paces behing the girls so they would not notice him as easily. Besides, following them felt more appropriate somehow, like it was better manners or somehow polite.