Body Language

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Rose liked to think she was a free spirit; being raised in a hippie commune sure did help solidify that. She was never one to stay in one place for long, but Central City was starting to make her change her nomadic ways. She fed off of people's energy, and living in the hustle and bustle of C.C. sure did fill that hunger. The vibrancy and exuberance of each person she passed on the street was just intoxicating.

Like her neighbors, for instance; they all lived such fascinating lives. Ling and Lan Fan: two Xingese lovers enjoying their first taste of freedom as they gained citizenship in Amestris. Then there was Alex Louis: a tower of a man with a heart as big as his physique, who created art so beautiful, it could move her to tears. Oh, and darling Winry! She had such a brightness in her, like a living drop of sun. She was a classic country girl trope, but instead of fame, she sought to learn new ways to heal people through medicine, mechanics, and kindness. Living with such people was so enticing! It kept her grounded to that spot, or at least as grounded as she could possibly be.

The autumn weather was beckoning to be enjoyed, and Rose was not one to deny herself such a delight. She was sitting outside on the apartment building's lawn, strumming her guitar as she hummed a whimsy hymn, when she saw Winry and two new faces walking up the sidewalk. How lovely! Winry rarely brought people to her home, it'd be nice for her aura to touch new lives!

"Hello, Winry!" she boomed, picking the strings of her beloved instrument, and looked to the two golden men that stood beside her. "Hello, Winry's friends."

"Hey Rose," the blonde smiled, and tilted her head slightly. "Did you get locked out again?"

"Oh no!" Rose giggled. "I'm just enjoying the earth before it goes to sleep."

"The hell is she talking about?" the golden man with a ponytail mumbled, and the other lightly smacked him.

"Oh!" Winry blurted, and pulled the ponytail man to her side. "Rose, this is our new neighbor, Ed, and his brother, Al! Ed, this is Rose. She lives next door to me."

"Hey," he grumbled, and Rose could sense a bubbling in him. Perhaps he was an anxious soul, or was his close proximity to the lovely girl causing his nerves to spike?

She waved her hand widely in front of him, causing him to focus on the drastic gesture rather than Winry. "Nice to meet you, Edward and Al!"

Alphonse smiled as he waved back, while Ed simply bucked his chin up in acknowledgement.

After a moment's pause, Winry invited her over for tea before the group bid her farewell. As they walked into the apartment, Rose analyzed how bashful Ed's body language was when he got close to Winry. It was even more apparent when she noticed how he reacted to his brother being beside him, instead of her lovely next-door neighbor. Perhaps an attraction was blooming?

Rose began to strum the strings of her guitar again, humming a simple melody as she looked out to the sky.

Sometimes spring's influence hit people earlier than expected.

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