The air was stale. Unmoving and bland. Devoid of the smell of oil, sweat, and crisp pastries. He started to doubt his decision to leave it all behind. He was unnerved by this growing chill inside his chest. Even though the hills and valleys had an air of familiarity, it still filled his blood to he brim with adrenaline. Just the prospect of an answer to his sprawling questions lurking somewhere in the large libraries, or in the minds of tenured scholars. But what he found at first sight was hardly what he was looking for. the culture was frivolous. The people valued decadence over knowledge or even...sincerity. He was constantly harassed by woman, and any one he asked about alchemy just gave him blank stares. This was proving more difficult than he thought possible.
All these annoying easy women just make me miss Winry. He rubbed his temple as he picked up the glass of ale he wouldn't even drink.
"Oi. Lad. What's got you so down?"
"Nothing new."
"And what's that?" His eyes flashed to his untouched drink, "Not a drinker huh?"
"No. Just an excuse to stay in doors."
"You're not from this country are you? Your dialect is strange. Amestrian?"
"Yeah. I grew up in the eastern region."
"Ah, that's why you're so difficult to place." The man began wiping down the counter. "Hey, y'know that girl in the corner-"
"I don't give a shit. I've already got a girl back home and these woman just piss me off."
"Well, that's an unexpected answer. Now I know for sure you're not from here." He chuckled.
"Honestly, I hate the preppy vapid types. I don't want some doll to hang off my arm. I want what I have. A companion who isn't afraid to set me right." Edward took a reluctant sip from his glass, and grimaced at the taste.
"I reckon you miss that girl."
"Yeah. I do. And I never told her how I really felt."
"Then why are you here?"
"I'm looking for something. Anything to help rectify my past mistakes."
"Geez kid. One drink and you're already spilling all your secrets."
"It's weird. But without my brother here I have no one to talk to." He slumped on to the table.
"I don't get many of your types here, so it's refreshing. Most guys either can't deal with their wives or don't even know where to start." He paused and picked up a dirty plate. Running his cloth over the grime. "Now what did you say you were here for? Looking for something?"
"Yeah. Alchemy. Someone, anyone. Any place, just some kind of library. Somewhere to start so that I can go home." His bottled up homesickness needed a place to go. No. He'd never tell Winry that he couldn't feel at home unless her anomalous scent was present and surrounding him. A calm inimitable zephyr ghosting on his clothes. Soon to be completely forgotten.
"Hm. Well, I see many men in my profession. And once I met a doctor. Ahh- Marx was the name. talked about some experimental alchemy. Once abandoned, but he's been trying to use it to help people. Fix them. People started calling him the restoration doctor. Apparently he was here for a patient. It was supposed to be a big success, but he failed. Poor girl was ripped to shreds. He got him self dead drunk after that. Almost killed himself. Poor man."
Ed jolted up. "Can you tell me where I can find him?"
"Probably back in his home town. Carseaux. 5 train stops east of here."
Edward slapped some money down on the counter. "Thanks for the help." He got up left.
One step foreword, Once step closer to home.

(A/N)Already, this story has more views than my EdXWin drabble series. I am disappoint. Go read it, and I will love you forever. I swear I write more substantially than this. Understated is an example. Read it. READ IT. Please :(

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