"Hi Al! Nice to see you, it's been so long!"
Al waved a hand in front of his face to try and clear some smoke. It was practically like walking into a cloud entering the office this morning. Sometimes he was happy he didn't have to breathe.
"Good morning Havoc" he nodded at the steam engine, and then turned to the only other occupant of the room "Breda".
"Sooo, what's the cause of this visit?" Havoc presumed the position he'd had before Al had entered the room; leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed.
"Oh, I just came by to deliver this file from brother. He decided to stay in bed today."
"Ha ha" Havoc barked a laugh, "The Chief's gone today as well. Wonder why?"Al smiled along in his tin can way.
"By the way, where is Lieutenant Hawkeye?" he asked, "I actually think I have never experienced her not being in the office in the middle of a working day."
"You know, it really is a rare event. Maybe she trusts us more than we thought! The moment the Chief has a day off, she's out too! Havoc smiled through his cigarette as he puffed happily with his legs on the desk and arms behind his head.
Al managed an impressive snort for a suit of armour. "She'd have to have the brain of a jellyfish to trust you to your work while she's away! Don't you find it the least odd that she's missing?"
"Well actually, I think I know where she is." Breda peeked over the impressive castle of files, paper cups and other office attire that he had made. "She left a few hours ago with second lieutenant Ross, from Armstrong's office. I don't know what they're up to, but she said something about doing some research when I asked her."
Al did something equal to raising an eyebrow, armour-style. "Are they acquainted? I didn't know."
"Neither did I, but I've seen them together several times today. And also, though it may not be linked at all, Falman's also been missing all day, and I think I saw him walking around outside Armstrong's office.
"Odd."
-End part 10 ~Alfonse Elric's POV~