With Time To Kill[.Open.]

[Sharlene Loveland]

People came her alot, she heard. The raven hair twirled about her arms as she turned to see every store which surrounded her. Her spring green hat protected her from all the sun which shined down apon the rest of them. The many stores which surrounded this area had attempted to lure her in. Shari was only interested in what was useful. Still, so many shiny things she wanted. Most had been those mechanical arms and legs. Those she couldn't have even if that was what most people had been buying here. Still, she could not help but stare and wonder. Her eyes passed a few more mechanical arms that gleamed against the sun. Others did the same as her. Walking slowly, wondering, and for some, wanting.

Sharelene's eyes landed apon a small necklace in the window. It was a pearl no bigger than the nail on her pinky finger. It hung about a silver chain and lied on a white pillow. The whole thing stood out from the rest of those jewelry that had been lying around. Curiousity was Shari's bad habit. She pulled her eyes away to see the price. Much more than Shari could ever afford. A rather pouty expression took over the sweet smile she once had. She wasn't sure how much money was on her at the moment, but she's never seen anything so expensive in her life. Yet, Shari found it strange to stand there and stare at the item for so long. Maybe there was hope? Her hands reached down quickly into the purse she carried around.

Definetly not enough to buy that necklace. Shari sighed deeply and angrily, bending down to stare at it more closely. Why did things have to be so expensive? She pressed her fingers against the glass, as well as the very tip of her nose, just to stare with stars in her eyes. It was perfect! Simply beautiful. Yet another pouted frown followed on her lips. She felt like an idiot. One, actually allowing herself to stare at that thing. Two, thinking she could afford it. Everything here was just all too expensive. Shari only wanted to kill some time while she had nothing to do back home. Where ever that was.

No fun. Not at all. . .

[Roy Mustang]

It had been a verbal warning, one that was almost unspoken right before he had departed. It had been imparted to him before he left. If he came back he would be given his life in exchange, if he left it would be taken from him at any measures. It was the cost of leaving, there was now an unspoken price on his head, one that he didn't even know the price of. After the first attack, he had been forward and honest, he was gone, it wasn't the lifestyle for him anymore.

His feet had broken into a run, and he hadn't stopped until he had reached Rush Valley. It was the place where he was to catch his breath for a while, a place that he wouldn't be suspected of sneaking off too. Train had no friends, he had no place to go, no one to be with, so he had an advantage. The only person that he had ever called a friend was now dead. He was alone again, a stray cat on the prowl without money or food or even shelter. The day was a nice one, the sun was beating down and there was a slight wind in the air. People were crowding the streets and the gleam of metal seemed to blind as it came pouring forth from shiny shop windows. It was the perfect hideout, but it might have also been the worst. Clothed entirely in black, a solitary figure moved down the street, looking at no one, looking for nothing.

There was hope for him yet, he had survived the intial two day period, and now things could only get better. Right? It all depended on time, it was a matter of time before things fell through, or before things actually worked out.

All I have is time now. I have all the time in the world, and it's all mine. I am my own person now, I am owned by no one.[/color]

The thoughts were strange ones, it was almost incredible to think about all the things that had happened within a span of only a week. It was over now, it was time to start over fresh. As he continued down the street, the shops begun to space out a bit. It looked as if he was leaving the main street of town. The more obscure the scenary, the better. It would give him the advantage. It wasn't that he was scared of fighting, it was just that he was getting tired of it. It was an endless game, one that struck the same tune and would continue on well after his own death. The whole thing might have been one big conspiracy, whatever it was Train hadn't intended to stay much longer to figure it out.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a girl staring deep into the fathom of a shop display window. She seemed to be eyeing something with a rather withheld enthusiasm. Train's golden eyes passed over the scene with little to no interest. His feet dragged behind him as he kicked up red dirt and clay from the ground, his eyes kept on dragging themselves back to that one spot - staring at the girl who was in turn staring into the display window. He didn't know why the image bothered him, but it created a strange feeling within the pit of his stomach. It was almost as if he had seen it before.

[Sharlene Loveland]

Shari's hands managed to pull her away from the window before she lost all patience. Pretty things had always been more than one could afford. She let a deep sigh escape her lips before backing away from the window. She had bet anything, that people were beginning to wonder if she was alright. Getting a job here to earn enough money would be way too hard, seeing as most of the things they did here had to do with those metal arms. Why did she want it so much? Something told her that wanting an item so bad, always lead to trouble. She turned away as quickly as possible. Maybe if she forgot it was ever there. . .?

As she turned, allowing her shoes to wear away from the dirt, Shari felt a cool breeze whisper behind her neck. Even the lightest breeze could knock over that hat on her head. Shari held her hand over the top to keep it from blowing away as it has done before. Her eyes scanned the area for anything interesting at all. Most people hadn't noticed her exsistance, but there was some one looking at her. She had picked out of the crowd, seeing that he was dressed differently from quite a few people around.

Her hand lifted up to gave a sort of wave across her fingers. Shari allowed a smile to grace her soft lips, before moving on. Sharelene's cerulian eyes gazed through every other window of every other shop. That necklace was still hidden in the back of her mind, but pretending not to think of it, helped a bit.

Where to go. . . What to buy. . .

[Roy Mustang]

Dust was kicked up as he walked on, the wind seemed to be helping in the process of spreading read dust up the front of his black pants and boots. It didn't seem to bother Train much, maybe it would help him blend in with the locals as everyone else seemed to be wearing some shade or other of brown. Compared to the crowd he was dressed differently, he stuck out. It wasn't exactly the best time to stick out, in fact it was one of the worst. He than begun to think about trying to get rid of his current clothes. He was a wanderer he had nothing on him apart from his gun and the clothes on his back adding one heavy black trenchcoat. They were bound to have stores out here, he could easily exchange the stuff that he was wearing for something new, or for something used. But than what would he do when he got to the next town? It sounded like an unending process where no end was in sight. He was free now, why did he have to bother with such things?

Train decided that it might have been better to go on fighting than trying to switch up his clothes and change his appearance at every single town he passed through. It had sounded like an impossible proposition, besides he wouldn't be caught running from something so stupid as those that were chasing him. He would beat them, he knew that he was fully capable of it because he was one of the best that they had.

I can do this. I know I can do this. It's just going to take some time.[/color]

It was a good start to begin with, but that was until his stomach begun to rumble. Train realized that he hadn't eaten for the better part of two days, or had it been three? He was starving, after all that he had been through it had been hard to even think about food. Now he was feeling a bit ashamed of the fact that he was actually thinking of food.

How can I think of food at a time like this? I have no money, and I can't very well stop here. Maybe I can, but should I stop so soon? They will still be looking for me, besides if I go alone I might look suspicious. I wonder if anyone followed me here. If I stop walking than they will be able to find me.[/color]

All the things that he worried about seemed insignificant enough, but they could very well be plausible. Train's golden eyes were again dragged to the girl who was now walking away from the window that she had been gazing into. He felt himself drawn towards the same window, a little bit curious about what was hiding behind the foggy glass. It didn't take long for him to approach the object, it was a simple pearl necklace with a ridiculous price tag on it. Before he had always had a handful of money shoved in his pockets, his job had been a profitable one, but now he nothing to his name. He had abandoned any material item aside from his gun that linked him to those people. His gun was the only thing left that he really needed - but food sounded nice at the moment.

[Sharlene Loveland]

Shari stopped a few times infront of a few more windows to see what the stores had. There were pleanty of things she could of gotten, just nothing she actually wanted or needed. A few shoe stores had been there, but she liked her own enough. A perfume shop? Shari already had a few lying in her purse, that had been less expensive and probably smelt better. They had a store for everything here.

There was a clothes store, which she actually took the time to look through the window. A few skirts had caught her interest, really. They were short but she really liked them. There were other things she was tempted to buy, and seeing as they weren't nearly as expensive as that necklace, she turned to walk in. Sharelene pressed her hand against the door and began to push it open, but a smell lingered through the air. She turned her head to see a food store across from the store she was about to enter.

The raven haired beauty turned and walked rather quickly towards that shop. Shari pressed her fingers against the door and pushed lightly. The bell over the door jingled to let the store owner know a customer came. An old man sitting at the counter gave her a slight smile. She nodded with a smile herself before continuing to look at the food. It all looked so good, and it seemed to be time for her lunch anyway. Soon, she found herself buying an ice cream cone. That wasn't really "food" but this place was awfully hot.

Yum. . .

She thought, walking out the store with something nice and cold. Sharelene sat on the bench which had been rather close to the store and allowed the cold liquid to cool her dry throat.

[Roy Mustang]

Matieral items, who needed them? They definitely aren't going to put food in my stomach or money in my pockets.[/color]

The more he thought of it, the more hungry he felt. Pushing the thoughts from his mind Train turned away from the window with the gleaming pearl necklace and started to look for a place to eat. His yellow eyes caught sight of the girl in the white dress again emerging from a store with an ice cream cone clasped between two hands. She looked content enough with it, he realized that it was the same girl that had been staring in the shop window before. He realized now why she had looked so different and what had drawn his eye to her - she was wearing a white dress. The desert was covered in red clay and dirt, but the dress seemed unharmed by the elements. Everyone around them was clothed in mucky browns and darker blues.

Hopefully she doesn't think I'm following her. That could be a problem. Where's a way out when I need one. It would be better if I just left now while I'm ahead of them. With my luck they will catch up in the short time it takes me to eat.[/color]

Noticing her clothing only made Train feel more out of place. It seemed like an easy thing to spot a foreigner around here, they stuck out a mile away if their clothing style didn't consist of the same red muddy brown as the dust beneath their feet. Train walked across the street scanning the shop signs, and walking by the murky windows looking for restaurant menus and price signs. If he was lucky, he might be able to start a tab somewhere. Who was going to be there to keep track of him if he left? No one would notice a random stranger passing through, as long as he made a point never to come there again he might as well have been safe. He stopped again in front of a restaurant window glaring at the menu posted behind the glass.

[Sharlene Loveland]

[[.Sorry it took so long.]]

Shari turned her gaze away from the ice cream cone in which she began to feel as though her throat was no longer dried out from the hot weather. She remained on the bench, allowing herself to relax until her eyes were set upon the same young man as before. This place was a bit smaller than many of the cities she's been in before, so it would be normal to see some one twice. The girl watched him pass by to stare into a few resturaunt. She watched, searching with her eyes for answers. He didn't fit in with the rest of them, so she figured he wasn't from this town. That was really all she could get out of him just by looking at him.

Calling this man "him" wasn't very fun to Shari. She stood to her feet, dusting her white dress off and beginning to walk towards him. Shari had began to find herself quite interested. She brushed passed a few people, throwing her half-finished ice cream cone into the trash and continued on her way. She was drawn to the glass window he was staring at and peeked in herself, pressing her hands against the window.

"If you don't mind me asking. And I know this is an odd question," Shari began, slowly turning her eyes away from the menu[though she never really paid any attention to it in the first place]," May I have your name?"

[Roy Mustang]

Train still stood staring intently into nothingness or rather just at a menu posted behind glass. Almost as soon as his disinterest begun to grow standing in one place for so long, a girl was peering over his shoulder and looking at the same thing. He could feel her close to him, or close enough so that he could sense her presence over his shoulder. It was the feeling that he got when someone was following him or just looking over his shoulder. Her voice had proved such a suspicion genuine. Since he had sensed her behind him he found that he wasn't very startled when she spoke up. In fact he didn't seem bothered at her by her somewhat instant presence, she could have appeared out of thin air but the fact that she was standing behind him was all he needed to know.

'May I have your name?'

My name? What would she want that for? She would be better off taking my soul for all the good my name will do her. I don't see anything wrong with giving it, she's a foreigner too, and she doesn't look like the type that would kill me. She looks to innocent. But don't they all start out unsuspicious and unassuming? This is true, can I trust her?

"You're not from around here." Train observed, he didn't immediately blurt out his name, instead he seemed to be taking the long route. If she was willing to stay for the inbetween talk maybe he would tell her.

This is stupid if she came to kill me she might as well have done it already. I gave her a million opportunities and right now she's getting a million more. Should I trust her? I don't always trust the wrong people.[/color]

"Train." Producing his name in an almost matter-of-fact like tone Train was almost sure that she would miss it, maybe she wouldn't catch it afterall. If she didn't get it than he did have the benefit of the doubt, because she didn't seem to be after him. No, he decided that she posed now immediate threat and to think that she would even for a split second seemed crazy now since she looked very innocent in that white sundress of hers. He could clearly see her reflection in the glass, she looked young but she couldn't be that young.

[Sharlene Loveland]

Shari blinked her eyes curiously and kept her eyes concentrated into his. She allowed a smile to grace her soft lips when he had pointed out she wasn't from this place. Shari didn't blame him for not telling his name right away. It was odd to be asked for your name by a total stranger. Well, Sharelene had always been that sort of person who was quite outgoing. She held her breath when he spoke once more. Apparently, it was his name. She hadn't heard it. And if she did, Shari had been certain that it was not correct. What did he say? She recalled the word a few times and assured herself what it was. Or what it might of been.

What was that? Hmm. . . What in the name of goodness had he said?

Either Shari hadn't been listening, which she doubted, or she just simply had trouble hearing. She cleared her throat and closed her eyes for a brief moment. Nope, she had no clue. Shari thought it was pointless to ask him for a name when she didn't even hear it. She parted her lips to begin speaking with him. She felt quite odd having to ask it again, but things like that happened.

"Well you are certainly right. I'm not from this place but you aren't either," She mentioned and then decided to ask for the name again. She felt as though it was rude to ask for a name twice, but Shari always grew a little curious," I'm sorry. I don't believe that I heard you. What was your name?"

"Anyway, I am Sharelene Loveland and I am very pleased to meet you," She continued, holding out her hand.

[Roy Mustang]

Obviously she had realized that he too wasn't from around here. It was definitely the clothes, but he had no reason to change his appearance because he would be out of this town soon enough. He had been planning on leaving this place since he had set foot here. He was still on the run so it was best not to stick around in one spot for too long.

She's definitely not after me.

"Train Heartnet." Train replied, he wasn't fond of giving his whole name but she didn't seem to understand it when he had last spoken. He decided to give her the benefit of the doubt for now and allow the conversation to flow. He had nothing better to do at this moment and as far as was concerned this would be the last corner of the Earth that anyone would want to search for him at. Train was more used to hanging around the higher profile areas like Central and Eastern city, this place seemed far from any of the main stretches of Amestris. No would think so look here for a while, it probably wouldn't happen until after they had checked all the major places. But than again they weren't stupid so maybe they would figure it out before than.

Sharlene Loveland? It's a name that I haven't heard - this is a good sign.[/color]

It took him a few moments but Train realized that she was holding her hand out towards him for him to shake it. He didn't like shaking hands in fact he despised it. Shaking hands meant making contact with someone else, and at the rate that he was going everyone that he had ever known would be cursed for the rest of their lives. Train glared down at her hand as if hesitantly wondering if he should take it or not. "Where I come from when you're introduced to someone, you don't shake hands." He replied in response the the gesture. It was the best excuse now. How long had it been since he had actually last introduced himself to someone? A very long time it seemed because he could never remember shaking hands with anyone. It just hadn't been the way that he had been raised. "Because shaking hands means you're coming to an agreement or keeping a promise." He added, for the first time since he had stepped over towards the shop window he turned around and studied her.