Not Available
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Rizenbul boys have an unspoken understanding: Winry Rockbell is not available.
Ignore those encouraging nudges in the ribs and deliberate praises when their fathers go over to have their auto-mails fixed -- they'd rather not have their hearts needing repair, too.
Joel asked her last summer, they've heard. The boy had been working with Winry to fix his father's tractor. Nothing changed between them, so George thought he still had a chance.
Then, before anything else happened, the Elric brothers returned from Central City. It was a short visit, but everyone drew the proper conclusion, and nobody has tried again since.
Rizenbul girls sometimes speculate whom she will marry -- will it be Edward or Alphonse? Favours are on Ed's side, him being of the same age and such.
When asked to confirm, Winry always grins and answers, "I don't like guys shorter than me."
Then the bets will sway a little to Alphonse's favour, because they've seen Ed just recently, and it seems hopeless for him. And maybe they didn't get a chance to see Al because he'd been busy spending what little time he had with Winry?
Winry laughs at the harmless gossip, but turns a little wistful once she is alone.
Nelly tells her to be careful, because the assumptions going around the village about her relationship with one of the Elrics are "spoiling her market".
Nelly is the only one who trusts her when she says neither Edward nor Alphonse is her boyfriend, but it really doesn't matter.
"I don't mind," she replies. "I'm not available, after all."
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