All The Time In The World. (Resembool)

[curtisizumi]

x Prologue.
A small sigh escaped under the loud roar of the train trekking off behind them. Safe on inanimate earth, the woman adjusted her jacket lifting a fist to her mouth to cough with a grimace forming over her lips. "I've suddenly gotten a bad idea in my head." A small mutter to herself as Seig lifted his bag over his shoulder and looked down at the woman. 'What is that?' She hesitated, shifting her gaze up at the man frowning softly. "I don't think I noticed Mason package the meat in the freezer...." Seig nodded and that...Didn't give her any confidence. 'You can call him once we get to the home.' An approving nod. Her head turned as she lifted her head up to the sunny sky.

A breath of fresh air, she felt good...Her body felt better than it had in a long time and that far away memory of her past now resided in the clouds. It'd be nice to see them again, Winry as well.

"Alright, better get there before they run off somwhere...."

'It seems we are missing a bag...' His voice was deep and concerned. Izumi glanced up at him, her bright smile faded into an annoyed tick, how could you lose something on a train? You brought it on...You take it off...[/i] But she knew her husband would be the first to volunteer getting to the bottom of it. He confirmed this with a stroke of his beard. A little action she grew to take as the universal sign of I'll get right on it honey. What a man! Her smile returned as she pointed forward, down a dirt road that lead over the initial bit of buildings and into a hilly backdrop.

"Alright, I'll get a move on... Oh, be a dear and pick up some items, I think I'll cook." Normally the couple would accept an offering of Pinako but the old woman must be tired of it, she could spare a bit of time cooking for the four.

How long has it been? She wondered, nearly two years? Three? Really the time has gone bye too fast... It felt comforting to imagine how much everyone had grown. They were entering their final years of growth and Ed... Well, she'd just have to wait and see~ A smile returned as she passed the quaint little buildings, an occasional home and farm... Then, at the top of the hill she saw it, the Rockbell's where Ed and Al, along with Winry and Pinako lived. "Hard to imagine it's me giving the overdue visit. I'll never hear the end of it..." A shaken head as the sun peaked in the mid-afternoon sky. A breeze caught onto her begging her to keep going.

"Alright I'm going..." Truly she could stand there all day, even until her husband caught up thinking about them but that'd look ill on her...Old people did that, mustn't look old! A grimace. Down the hill she glided, sandals clapping against the dusty road. Closer still, finally she reached the sign greeting her. Eyes shifting up to the balcony hoping to catch a glimpse. Slowly she stepped up and placed her luggage down lifting her wrist knuckles facing the door.

>Knock knock<[/font][/size]

[pie4me]

"Just sit still already!"

"WHAT!? HEY! That hurts!"

Winry clenched her teeth and pushed down hard onto stubborn screw with her wrench, driving it into the automail arm firmly and then shoving it onto the stump of the old man's arm. The man groaned and clenched his own teeth as extreme pain raced up his arm. "I told you not to move," Winry said in an exasperated tone. "I had to finish connecting the automail to your nerves!"

"You got that right! You definitely got on my nerves-"

"That isn't what I meant!"

After the man had left the house, Winry settled down at the dining room table to go over some new plans she had come up with. They were to improve the weight and strength of her mechanics at the same time as not lessening the use you could get out of the automail. It was a big breakthrough for her and her customers and she hadn't had much time to work on them lately. Winry's hair was done into a normal ponytail as usual, her bangs swept across her forehead and forever in the way of her eyes. She was also dressed in her work clothes even though it was nearing the evening. One hand worked its way slowly across the table to the plans - her face exhausted and worn out from the heavy load of customers all through the day - and finally grabbed a pencil. Winry spun it around in the air and caught it again, then began to draw out an automail arm and leg on the paper.

A short rap on the door caught her attention. Hm. Maybe it was Edward or Alphonse? She kind of thought Ed would've called if he was coming back home and Alphonse was off somewhere doing his own thing anyway. Wouldn't they have given her a little warning? It must be someone else. Winry stood, stretched, and walked slowly across the living room to the front door. Her fingers curled around the knob and she opened it...

Only to be so surprised! It was Izumi! Winry's eyes lit up immediately. "Miss Izumi!? Is that you? Its been years since you've come to visit!" She said excitedly, immediately opening the door wider to allow this unexpected friend to come in. "Its great to see you. I thought for a second that you might be Edward or Al, but ya know. Its the way it is I guess. They've been gone for a couple weeks actually. Still, what brings you here?"

[curtisizumi]

It wasn't long after her initial knock that the door was answered. Inside she heard the shuffling, and thanked them from outside for a swift answer... She hated waiting in front a door. The knob clicked and the door opened revealing the younger girl. Not surprised by the girl, she offered a small smirk. The look on her face, and it was well deserved. It had been a few years now. This stated fact made her let out a small 'Heh' like grunt from within.

Izumi allowed the girl to get the shock and rambling out of her system, amazing how one could reply so quickly to someone they wouldn't expect at their doorsteps. That was the endearing thing with Winry, she always had something to get off her chest, bad or good...And most of the time it was good (At least towards Izumi, same couldn't be said about the Elrics.) "It has~ Don't think I will get over the fact that's the best you could say to me after so long..." She gave a sarcastic smile, then into a genuine 'It's good to see you again' kind of smile. As the door opened more she bent down some to pick up her luggage stepping in, her eyes immediately glancing around to the familiar home.

"I trust you've been well...--" She looked to the open rooms and then turned her gaze on the blonde girl. The smile faded but it wasn't with any sort of ill feelings, simply that, there was enough smiling already done. " -- You're expecting the boys?" She paused, seems she had missed them... Still - it was good to see Winry, she'd enjoy catching up with the girl. "I've been fine, Seig and I decided we'd pay you all a visit... Had to get out of the house. You look busy." A brow lifted noting her work outfit, comfortable for the girl but an odd sight to see her still work ready...Then again, another endearing quality about the girl.

A hand lifted to push some of her braided hair back, as of late she had been wearing her hair down. Ideally it looked more wholesome, but it presented problems as Winry could relate to. The hand - after doing what it needed - rested on her shoulder as she stood just near the door way, luggage down once more and then the silence crept in. "Well, I'm sure you've got something to drink. I won't be here long, can't spend it on pointless silence and questions, tell me what you've been up to! Where's Pinako?" A kind of motherly barking, not laced with anger or frustration, but...happiness, a warm feeling of being reunited with a friend after so long.

[pie4me]

"Oh..." Winry soon saw that Izumi was only joking, however, and she returned a smile. The girl stepped around Izumi to close the door. Even though she wasn't sure on where Izumi's husband was, Win was sure he'd be along soon. After all it wouldn't be so hard for her to open the door a second time right? She swung around again, walking briskly over to where her friend stood. "I'm always busy! People visit me here as well as at the shop, so I gotta look ready for business most of the time. It isn't too much trouble. Not like there's a ton of stuff to do here anyway, right?"

Resembool was a nice town, if a little quiet at that. Nothing ever seemed to happen here besides the unfortunate event years ago concerning Trisha Elric. That had been about as much of a historical event that this town would probably ever see, at least in Winry's lifetime. Tinkering on automail kept her working - and it was definitely something to do when she was bored. Winry loved mechanics, so if she had to wear her work outfit everyday from sun-up to sundown, then so bet it.

"I actually was expecting the boys. They've been gone for a while so I figure they've been up to something. I can't say I hope they get around to tromping back home with all my handi-work messed up as always. But if they can get here without major injury or bleeding all over my kitchen floor then I'll be happy!"

Winry was really excited to see Izumi even though she missed her two best friends terribly. Her tone was light and teasing, but she was sure that the other woman would know how much she missed them without having to say it. Here it was lonely. Sure, Win had Pinako around, but it just wasn't the same as someone who was her own age. "Granny!" Winry shouted, running to the counter to poor Izumi some grape juice and handing it to the woman hurriedly. "Izumi's here to see us! Isn't that great!?"

"I'll be down in a minute Winry, quit your blasted shouting!" Pinako yelled from upstairs.

"Sorry. We've been working on new automail all week for a whole bunch of customers," Winry explained. She hated how strung up and wiry her grandmother could be sometimes, but the old woman did care and that was what counted after all. "So what have you been doing these last couple years?" Winry completely ignored the jibe about asking questions - but then, she so often ignored Edward and Al whenever they annoyed her too much or made her angry that it just came natural after all this time.

[curtisizumi]

"I can see that....At least you're keeping busy." She noted all the strewn machine bits and tools in order to keep them together. Obviously the Rockbells were not the most clutter preventative. It'd take a detective days just to organize any kind of clues they might need from the automail scraps... Yet, it made you feel at home. An attribute you rarely found in homes, always dolled up and made to look presentable even if it was only being used 95% of the time by the owners themselves. Of course order was a must, but some folks took it to extremes.

Izumi and Seig never did, then again they never attached themselves to a whole lot in their home/Butcher shop. Izumi found herself leaning down and easing herself into the sofa behind her. Hearing Winry talk like a rocket was, relaxing... She missed it, the sound of a conversation that dove deeper than what someone wanted. Yeah... That's what she liked, complete independence. The boys were like that, maybe that's why they grew on her so quickly. Same with Winry and she could only see herself in the girl, of course - with a few minor adjustments. A smile crept up on her lips as she rested her elbow into the armrest and her cheek into her knuckles.

"I see so I did miss the boys by some time hm? No matter, a visit for the Rockbells was in order as well.~"[/color] That's when something she said struck her. This strike furrowed the woman's brows as her slender eyes shifted up to the girl. "Did you say 'Handi-work' Are you telling me they've gone and broken off another of their appendages? Please, for their safety tell me you meant they were testing out something you built..."[/color] A small sigh escaped before she shook her head, dismissing the thought. Well, not entirely - Truly she felt that if Ed or Al had somehow broken another bone in their body, she'd have to step in and just finish the job of breaking all of them...Because she sure as hell wasn't going to tolerate any sort of foolishness with their formerly fixed bodies...Morons... Now her mood was soured.

Then, miraculously she calmed herself. Looking to the side recalling Winry had called to Pinako not too long ago and the old woman had replied in a ... ungodly yell. "She still has some fight, if you could get me some water please.... I haven't had anything to drink since we took off~."[/color] A small 'I was a fool' kind of smile rose... She knew she could have ordered something on the train ride, and even was urged by Seig. But being who she was she figured she could wait - She made it, but now it seemed like a waste of a challenge... "We are doing fine. I've been breathing a lot easier. Seig should be heading here soon I had him get some items, figured I'd cook for you tonight - least I could do really..."[/color] Modest... She could do less, and honestly the least she could do was let Seig cook for them. But she felt good, a visit to a friend - Why not -?

"Didn't you work in Rush Valley for a time? How did that go for you? Learn anything?"[/color] Did she just...Open the floodgates for Winry to completely Mech-rush her with information and stories? That's what you do when you care for someone enough... Still -Good going -[/size]

[pie4me]

Winry nodded, smiling in an annoyingly sweet but sincere sort of way. "Yep! You missed 'em. But hopefully they'll be back soon, ya know? I think the both of them went off to gather up all the stuff they can-OH! No, I didn't mean it like that I guess. Umm... but Ed still has that metal leg of his and everything so I wouldn't want him to mess it up. Besides, I sent some of my tools and things, even a few odds and ends to show to all the people they meet. If anyone comes that was referred by them then they get a big discount on automail at my shop!"

"Thats our shop, kid! Just because you work there for the both of us doesn't mean I don't give you tips!" Came the huffy reply from upstairs. Apparently Pinako wasn't as cheerful today as she could be. But no matter! Winry filled a glass of water and handed it to Izumi with a grin. "Oh I learned a lot! In fact, I had to leave a while ago to come back here because granny needed-"

"What was that!?"

"Er... I mean, didn't need my help! Heh... heh..."

Winry scowled and then sighed, sitting down across from Izumi in another chair. "Anyway, I did learn a lot. In fact Paninya and I had a blast! I think she's gotten over her stealing habits even. Oh, Paninya is my friend from Rush Valley just in case you didn't know. oh! I figured out how to adjust the turn angle in automail so that when you attach it to someone they won't be in as much pain! Wish I could have figured that one out for Ed a long time ago. Poor guy. But geez, what a baby he is! Hope he's doing okay wherever he's gone off to. The West, I think. By the way, I got new screws down there too and even brought them up here to use! They're this specially modified..."

Minutes went by and yet Winry didn't stop her constant shatter about mechanics. What could she do? It was her favorite subject so of course she would want to talk about it! She got more and more expressive by the second, gesturing with both hands and then grabbing her wrench in the air and swinging it around as she described story after story of the shops down in Rush Valley. Every detail and every single memory seemed to be important to tell Izumi, but she didn't get so far as she to talk for an hour (though it literally seemed like that). Pinako was soon walking down the stairs.

"Shut up Winry!" she commanded harshly, but then allowed a small smile on her face as she saw Izumi sitting there. "Ah, Izumi! How nice is it to see you. Is Sig here as well? I don't see him... but I don't think my eyesight is that bad yet... hm."