Nearly forgot to update today O.O Sorry!

Continuation to 'Masks' because I couldn't think of anything else interesting.

Also – soon, I'll be at the halfway point, 50 chapters! I'm hoping I can break 50 reviews by then. As an incentive, I'll write a special oneshot about anything FMA for the 50th reviewer :3 (I mean, I will for anyone who asks, but…it's the thought that counts, okay?)

What-is-the-color-of-love: There we go XD Besides, I'm nearly halfway through!

mrsbenedictcumberbatch: D'aww, you're making me blush. Thank you! Glad you're enjoying these :D Also, digging your username.

48. Drumming

Ed asked around. He used every connection he had, and didn't mention the (possible) name of the stranger – just the things he'd noticed, the things he wished he hadn't noticed.

And finally, he was given a location.

The sound of drumming helped him find his way through the maze of alleys. This part of Central was a mess, a dip in the eastern part of the city where the smashed-glass skyscrapers stayed the same height but the ground got lower and lower. The towers became mighty, then godlike, then incomprehensible the lower into this part of the city he got.

And there, in the central, was the Lumiére.

That was just one of its many names, of course. It was where the gypsies and the Ishbalans and the Xingese refugees and anyone with music to make and mouths to feed came to dance and sing…and drum.

Sitting by the fire in the centre, watching the drummers, was Envy. Ed sat down next to him, not saying anything but staring into the fire.

Finally, after he couldn't stand it any longer, he asked. "Why were you there?"

"Why was I where, pipsqueak?" Envy took a swig from the bottle he held.

Ed didn't bother getting mad. "Oh, drop it. Just…look, I'm not gonna be stupid, okay?"

"That's a tall order."

He managed to rein himself in before the rant made it past his lips. "I just want to know."

"I told you, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Envy, you're a dumbass. You can shapeshift. Yet you showed up to a masquerade with green hair." Ed leant back on his elbows. "You know what I think."

Envy grunted. "What?" He took another drink.

"You wanted me to know who you were."

Envy choked on his drink and spluttered it out, then began to laugh. "Man, you sure think highly of yourself! What, you really think I thought that far ahead? You humans are so self-centered!"

Ed raised an eyebrow, smirking.

The homunculus scowled. "Aw, screw you." He lay back on the ground next to Ed.

"So really, what's going on here? This a trap or something?"

Envy chuckled darkly, and Ed wondered if he should get up and run yet – then Envy shoved the bottle at Ed's chest. "Drink up, shut up and enjoy the music…love."