[.Rains of Unknown Properties.]

[Maria Ross]

Automail clanking.

The smell of oil on her brow, on her gloves, and all over the place.

The creaking of hinges.

That was the enviroment that Winry Rockbell immersed herself in when Edward felt the need to leave her all the time.

Edward and Alphonse Elric. They were like little brothers to her. The three of them had always been together when Ed and Al weren't with their family. They had gone to school together. She had seen them at their worst and at their best.

So why wasn't she with them?

Why was she here, with her grandmother, waiting for them?

The blonde girl looked out the window, at the pouring rain and the fog of the night. It almost looked unnatural, as if to reflect her lower growing mood.

She growled.

What the hell had gotten into her?!

Why was she emotional all the time now?

Then, she shook her head.

Everytime she got emotional, and sad about them gone, they always seemed to come back.

Maybe it was a sign.

[Sloth]

(I would join, but Slothy-poo dosn't fit in)

[Maria Ross]

((Perhaps later when we need a killer. XD))

[Sloth]

((XDDD Yes *laughs evily*))

[pinako]

"Winry, you've lost interest in your work suddenly. Are the brothers' whereabouts getting to you again, girl?" Pinako asked, her voice a bit gravely. She had been working on her own piece, an order that was due out tomorrow that still had a good deal of work to do on it. Some idiot had managed to shatter his hand. The old woman had inquired as to how, but quickly decided she didn't want to know when the customer mentioned something that hinted illegal business.

"You need to stop worrying about those two so much. They've taken care of themselves well enough these past years, and they know well enough when to come get help when they need it desperately enough." She left the unspoken fact out of their conversation--her granddaughter knew well enough that Pinako didn't like the danger they were putting themselves in either, knew how the old woman despised the military world they had placed themselves so deep within.

"If you can't get your mind off them, go play with Den. She's been depressed since this rain came in, and hasn't been allowed outside. She could use the exercise." It was clear to all that knew Pinako that she valued hard, distracting work above almost all else.

[Maria Ross]

Winry looked down at her grandmother, and frowned. Pinako did have a point, yeah, but still, she couldn't help but worry about the two boys.

She yawned.

"I suppose I could go play with Den, yeah." Winry muttered, sliding off her stool and putting down her tools. She walked back towards the main part of the house. "Den!"

[pinako]

Pinako looked after her granddaughter distractedly. It was unhealthy for the girl to be suffering so much over those boys, but they did it to her again and again. She knew they were only trying to right their wrongs and forge their own path, but that simple act had left their old life almost completely a memory falling to the sands of time. How long would it be before they decided they no longer needed to return to Rizembool?

With a sigh, the old mechanic returned to her piece, knowing that it would, without fail, get her mind off of the issue at hand. It was her response whenever said issue arose. Unlike Winry, Pinako had many years experience in distracting oneself.

((Hope no one minds if I NPC Den... If y'do, let me know. ^^)

Den had been snoozing in the living room on the rug in front of the fireplace. She could hear the rain splattering on the roof and could smell the dampness that had invaded the brick chimney. The poor dog sighed in her dog-like way and rolled limply onto her side. Being inside wasn't any fun at all.

Her ears perked up when Winry called, and the canine was up and running in the blink of an eye, sending the fireplace mat across the room in the opposite direction in her haste. She skidded to a halt before the blonde girl and wuffed happily, wondering just what she had been called for. Surely it was something exciting.