The corner of the library that Alphonse had chosen was very well lit, if slightly dusty. He had stacked several heaps of books on his table, and was currently on his fifth or sixth book. The notebook he had fished out of his jacket pocket lay forgotten under three books, marked open to different spots.
The librarian had given him no trouble. In fact, she hadn't even stopped him as he hurried, by, waving his State Alchemist's watch at her. He was glad she hadn't stopped him … he had compared his watch with Edward's own and it bored a different emblem on its front. That worried him, it would make it very easy to screw things up very badly if anyone thought to check closely. However, Edward's appearance was somewhat known throughout Central, so no one gave a second thought to a blond in a red coat waving a State Alchemists' watch in a hurry.
He was having no luck at all. It was disgusting. Alphonse had long-since shied his red coat … it was a darker hue than the other two's coats, but still very red … and now he leaned back in his chair and stared blankly at the shelves of books that surrounded him.
It was quite disgusting. A whole library full of books, and he wasn't even sure where to start! He didn't dare ask the librarian, lest she look too closely at him. The first books he had gone through had seemed promising, but they spoke of crossing spiritual barriers and other religious and self-enlightening nonsense. He wasn't looking for that, he was looking for… well, check that. He wasn't sure what he was looking for.
The most promising texts so far were by someone named Dornkirk, but deeper reading into them revealed someone more interested in prognostication and the threads of fate. Unless the threads of fate could open up a pathway to Alphonse's home, he wasn't interested.
He stuck a pencil in his teeth and flipped determinedly through another book. Damn it, he wasn't going to give up that easily. Somewhere, in all the history of alchemy, this had to have happened to someone else!
----
Edana growled to herself, three books tucked under her arm and her stomach protesting loudly. She hadn't had breakfast today and she was starting to slow down because of it. Dammit, when Edward had been eating that warm bread this morning, it was all she could do not to transmute herself out of Alphonse and snatch the food out of his hands.
His face would have been priceless, had she actually done that. Amused, Edana entertained herself with that scenario as she headed back towards headquarters. There would be food there, and she'd run less a risk of running into civilians who might know Edward.
"Edward!"
SHIT! She glanced around the plaza quickly, hoping that maybe her erstwhile twin had entered on the other side, but she didn't see him. Maybe if she hadn't worn her red coat, she wouldn't have been as recognizable, but then it would have been next to impossible to easily get in to the library. That goal was more important than not having people's heads explode.
"Hey, Edward! Wait up a second!"
She sighed, slowing her pace and glancing over her shoulder. Some blonde guy was running towards her, books in his arms. Her eyebrow quirked involuntarily. This guy kind of looked like that Tringha-oh, no.
Edana turned forwards and considered running for it. There was no way she'd make it, though, before he caught up with her. She steeled herself and turned all the way around.
"Hey, Edward," Russell Tringham panted, grinning slightly. "Fletcher and I just made a quick stop here to grab some books and ingredients before we headed back to Xenotime and…"
Edana stood there, waiting for him to notice.
"And we, uh … uh…" Russell's eyes had traveled down and suddenly seemed stuck. "Uhhh…"
"You've got the wrong person," she supplied helpfully.
"I, uhh… I think I do…"
"Good. Now, stop staring at my chest and leave, please."
Russell nodded once, a very strange expression crossing his face. Edana didn't move until he had started to walk away, then she rolled her eyes heavenward. This better not happen often, or else she'd be forced to start punching people in the face.
That decided, she turned and hurried back towards headquarters. Man, she was starving.