Returning Home (Open to all)

[akidasoren]

Alphonse nodded his head at Winry’s suggestion, it was true, they had not been there since they were children, and oddly it didn't seem all that long ago. “Yeah, ok” he said shortly after, his voice showing his happiness as it echoed inside his metal body. He stopped for a moment, his gaze moving to his brother as he too spoke before he began to follow Winry, his armour clanking in its usual manner. It was funny, they had been away from home for quite some time, and yet, somehow, it seemed as though they had never really left.

[Winry Rockbell]

Winry walked in a comfortable silence. She had her two closest friends by her side and nothing seemed to bother her at the moment. It was as though they never left, and they was going to go on their usual daily adventures. She didn't like that they always seemed to have a dark secret that they couldn't tell her, but she supported them with all her might.

[taisky16]

Well, this was curious.

Tai had left the Devil's Nest and had headed for Risembool. Knowing that him and his friends had just barely escaped their last encounter with the other Homunculi and saved Martel, he needed to know he'd be fully ready when they invaded Dublith to do a repeat.

Tai had improved upon his alchemy skills and fighting techniques, but his auto-mail was preventing him from executing greater tactics that required slightly more speed than what he was currently giving. He was swift, but he needed to be swifter to save his boss's lover.

Tai got off the train, a gust of wind ruffling his fluffy, golden-brown hair. The brillaint sunshine illuminated his crystal blue eyes, his smile seeming to do the same. This was a far-out country place. Maybe he'd take a small break after he got his mechaincal limbs looked at.

Striding casually down a lone dirt road, hands in the pockets of his faded blue jeans, Tai looked about, admiring the simpleness of the place. He had gone with his usual blue shirt with long, forest green sleeves. You couldn't tell both his arms were machine unless he showed you his hands. Or his foor, for that matter, for his left leg was of steel as well.

"No...it can't be..." Tai murmered to himself, spotting two blonde-haired figures and a tall blue one off in the distance. The shortest one was wearing a red coat, and he knew it to be Edward Elric. They had met a few times passing in Eastern Command. They were both State Alchemist, but Tai outranked Ed by two.

"Hi!" Tai said cheerfully, racing up to the three. He found the middle height one to be a lovely female with blonde hair pulled in a ponytail, wearing a black cloth about her top and black sweats. She also had on a red bandana.

"Ed, Al. You guys grew up here, right? Do you know of any good auto-mail mechanics? I need a touch-up. My arms and leg are too heavy."

[AG]

Ed looked over to Tai with surprise, "uh...yeah..." he answered. "We grew up here...this is Winry...she's an old friend. She's an automail mechanic. She built mine..." He explained to him.

[Winry Rockbell]

Winry not being sure as to what was going on looked to Tai, "Oh hello." she said. She wondered who that was. Being polite she smiled, "Nice to meet cha!" she said happily.

[taisky16]

"Hi!" Tai responded pleasently. Winry seemed awfully nice. And she was certainly pretty. "I'm a comrade of Ed and Al's. That is, I work for the State." He indicated to the gleaming silver pocketwatch and his hips, connected to his belt loop. "We're almost the same age, but he's actually more mature than I am. Haha!" He laughed here, then shook his head.

"S-sorry! I just feel so welcome here! Anyway, to business." Having made his introductions, Tai rolled up his green sleeves, revealing the machines that were his arms. They sparkled in the daylight. He knelt down and rolled up his left pant leg, revealing more automail. Scars scathed the joints where machine met flesh.

"I got it all done in Rush Valley," he explained as they all stared at him. "It's really good, but lately I've realized I need it to be lighter. I almsot lost an ear the other day because I couldn't get out of range from a gunshot. Think you can do anything, Ms. Winry?"

He hoped they wouldn't ask what a 17-year old boy was doing with a body that was literally half auto-mail. The memories of that day were painful. But he wouldn't refuse them a story if they asked. He hadn't talked about it in awhile, after all...

[Winry Rockbell]

Winry's eyes gleamed. "RUSH VALLEY?!" she always wanted to visit there. Full of other mechanics and other auto-mail otaku lived and worked. She looked over his arms and legs, "Such work! It's the work of a genius!" she said happily nodding her head. She put her hands on her hips. "Nothing the world's greatest mechanic couldn't do!" she said proudly. She knew she could get better, but she still couldn't help herself. Remembering her plans with Edward and Alphonse, she looked to them. "That is if you two don't mind." she said. It has been awhile since she seen Edward and Alphonse, and she didn't want them angry at her and leaving, at least without saying good-bye.

[AG]

Ed smiled at Winry, "Nah, I don't mind. Al and I can manage ourselves for awhile." He said as he shook his head and waved his hand. He turned to Al, "so, we have the afternoon to ourselves? What do you want to do?" He asked his brother.

[Winry Rockbell]

Winry smiled, she was glad that they was understanding. She would just have to pull some all nighters to get the auto-mail done in a decent amount of time. She mentally sighed at the thought. "Come on Tai, I'll start right away!" she said pulling on his arm, and dragging him towards the house.

[akidasoren]

Alphonse was enjoying the silence, it was nice to have peace where once there was so much noise, he definitely preferred the calmness of Risembool to the hustle and bustle of Central. No one there ever seemed to stop and take things in, or have time to think for just one moment, but here, here it seemed there was nothing but time, time to yourself, time to be with friends and family, and not have to worry for once. Suddenly a voice sounded, and Alphonse watched Tai somewhat surprised as he come racing up to them, a cheery greeting leaving his lips as he stopped in front of them before he asked his question. His gaze moved to his brother as he answered him before he looked back at Tai, it seemed he was here for a reason different from theirs, but it was going to involve Winry, that was perhaps the only similarity. It seemed she was going to have her hands full for a while, Alphonse shook his head in reply to her question, merely confirming his brother’s words, well, it was ok, they could always finish catching up later now couldn’t they? “We could still go down to the river” he said in reply to his brother’s question, his voice echoing inside his body.

[AG]

Ed nodded to his younger brother, "Sure, we can do that...maybe practice some fighting while we are down there." He loved when he and Alphonse would practice together. He was a good target and it helped him learn how to take down a bigger target. "Or if you don't want to do that we can just sit in the sun and enjoy the fresh air." He finished with a smile.

[taisky16]

((Sorry, I'm tied. Winry, would you mind taking Tai to the Rockbell residence and show him some of the scenery please? If not, I can do it in a day or two. Work and school are getting to me. XD))

[Winry Rockbell]

Winry reached her home, "Now just make yourself at home." she said to him. She rushed upstairs into her work bench and grabbed some of her measuring tools.

[taisky16]

((Thanks. ^-^))

Tai awed at the scene that rolled out before him as Winry led him to her home. The counrtyside was simply magnificent. Much different than the hustle and bustle of East City. He was used to the sirens wailing and the constant bickering of pedestrians. This was a new -and pleasent- change of pace. They passed by farming fields, many friendly people waving at them, returning smiles he sent them. He loved the overall atmosphere.

Upon reaching the Rockbell home, Tai nodded his agrement and took a seat at a rounded table in the sitting room, which consisted of a shiny red toolbox full of mechanical devices and littered with knuts and bolts. A few wires were strung about, and a meduim sized wrench lay on the chair over. Tai couldn't help but grin at all of this. Winry must be very dedicated to her work -and good at it- if she was always so well prepared like this.

"Hmm?" Tai spoke, feeling something furry and cold touch his exposed flesh leg. He'd forgotten to curl up his pants earlier, and a black-and-white dog with a metal leg and a collar that said 'Den' was perched on his leg, looking up at him with big brown eyes.

"Well, hi there!" the boyish youth smiled, petting Den before he scampered away up the stairs after Winry. "...guess he's not used to random strangers." Becoming curious, Tai stood up and stretched his arms. But apparently this wasn't such a good idea, because the next instant his left arm popped and fell limp to his side. He tried wriggliing it, but found it wouldn't move.

"Uh-oh," he said, grinning sheepishly. "I guess one of the nerve receptors or something is out of whack. This is what I get for not getting a check-up in three years."

It was a curious feeling, not being able to use his left arm. He didn't move his other limbs for fear of them failing as well. Hopefully Winry wouldn't be mad at him...

[Winry Rockbell]

Winry finally got a few of the things she would need so that she could start. She noticed a arm on the floor. She sighed, "You seem your just as bad as Edward as far as keeping your maintenance up." Sighing at the thought she picked up the fallen auto-mail arm. "Hmm, alot of your gears and screws are loose, along with alot of old wires that seems to need changed." she looked over it some more.

"I love their design of the auto-mail!" She then noticed the dents and scratches, which means either he is very reckless, or gets into trouble like Edward and Alphonse. She then continued to look over his other limbs getting measurements and everything ready.

After finishing she smiled, "Well your main problem is you haven't upgraded or got it checked in so long. Some of your gears are slightly rusted which would also slow you down." she felt like she was lecturing Edward. "Anyway I may redesign parts, if that is alright with you." she said. Sometimes the auto-mail that people got from someone could be special and don't always want to get something all new, so she wanted promission first.

[akidasoren]

((Apologies for taking so long to reply I've had some...issues))

At his brother’s words Alphonse lowered his head slightly, thinking for a brief moment before he looked back at Edward. “It would be good to practice” he said with a light tone to his voice. It had been a little while since they had sparred, and it was something that he too enjoyed, a chance to hone his own skills, and to aid his brother in improving his.

[AG]

Ed nodded as he and his brother reached the river, "alright, so what do you want to do first?" He asked his brother. "Want to be defense or offense...or should we throw in some free-style?" He asked his brother as he took off his red jacket.

[taisky16]

((Sorry, but my little sister changed the password on my computer, so I can't log on for a month, when I'm ungrounded. T~T))

[taisky16]

((I can sneak on if need-be. ^-^)

[akidasoren]

Alphonse looked to the river as they arrived, his gaze casting over the slowly moving waters, and he sighed lightly...it was peaceful, even more so than he remembered it. Whenever he and Edward had a fight, he would always come and sit here, and reflect on what had happened, it was funny...how he had been so drawn to water, even now he found that it drew him in, called to him. Looking back at Edward the younger Elric watched as his brother removed his coat, listening to his words quietly as he thought on them for a brief moment. “I think free-style would be good” he said in reply, nodding his head slightly.