(Untitled)

[parmi_le_bleu]

[Pay no mind to this one and his stricken expression. Chalk up another Edward to the tally of poor-sops whom have lost their 'charge'. Whomever he's let slip from his grasp must be important, and a soul he'd searched for long and hard- if his exhaustion, and the way he nearly crumples into an open chair, is any clue.]

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[camewithaprice]

[It was the sound of someone collapsing into the chair that had gotten this one's attention. Turning to face the other with an expression of concern, and stepping closer voice low with the inquiry.]

A-are you all right? You look... [For lack of a better word something was omitted here, replaced with something more ... neutral instead.] Exhausted.

[parmi_le_bleu]

Well. I am.

So, it's a fitting look- wouldn't you say?

[Edward's not about to bemoan his situation; but sugarcoating the less than tip-top shape he's suffering wasn't happening any time soon; either. Cue a thorough rubbing of the fingers from one hand across his grimacing face.]

Though, I'm curious.
Are you always so fretful over strangers you've never met?

[camewithaprice]

Well, in this place it's not that surprising. [It was a dry response, but not one completely lacking in sympathetic tone.]

[At the question there was a pause, blinking thoughtfully before shrugging a shoulder] I guess... Sort of. At least that's probably what Al would say about me shoving my nose into everyone else's business.

[parmi_le_bleu]

Nothing wrong with that.
It has it's own charm, I suppose.

[There's a lazy roll of his shoulders, all topped off with a smile that's not nearly as forced as his body attempts to make it seem.]

Especially considering that one can sense that you're coming to them bereft of ulterior motives.

[camewithaprice]

Charm... [There's a crooked smile at that, as if uncertain quite how to take such a statement.]

Motives? I'm beginning to wonder if I even know my own, anymore. Without my brother I just.... Get so restless, being here.

[parmi_le_bleu]

[Ah, hit him in Edward's moment of unguarded vulnerability with precisely his most potent weakness. Being without someone just as close to him leaves the man finding too much in common with the words spoken. It's enough to resonate a pang within him that leaves Edward nodding in agreement to those statements.]

..I know what you mean.

[camewithaprice]

[Having been speaking on a personal level, the other's vulnerability went completely unnoticed. A shrug was offered in answer to the nodding, an attempt at indifference to cleverly disguise the pain that came with being a lone force for the first time in nearly two decades.]

You're here alone too, huh?

[parmi_le_bleu]

Not..entirely.
I did not arrive here that way, at least.

[It's his turn to peddle his acting skills and steer the other away from further all too obvious shows of his struggle.]

[camewithaprice]

I see...

[somehow the thought of having Alphonse with her and then lost in this confusing place stung worse than having left him behind at home. Yet, at least if he had been here to begin with, there was more of a chance of finding him on these streets, wasn't there? Either way she didn't dwell on those thoughts for too long, instead trying to think of something that might help resolve the situation.]

And your company.. When was the last time you saw them?

[parmi_le_bleu]

A week. Perhaps two.

[The days here all seemed to blend together in a sea of perpetual stillness and a thousand faces with only a handful of differences between them. Time was elusive here.]

We were lodging at the inn a few streets down.
When I awoke, he was no where to be found. Haven't seen him since.

[camewithaprice]

And he left of his own free will? [That didn't seem to sit right, she couldn't comprehend leaving someone behind for such a period of time and her first inclination was to get angry on the other's behalf. What sort of person just up and leaves like that? But she pushed it aside, telling herself that she wasn't aware of the situation in question.]

I... [There really was nothing more she could say to that. What if he wasn't coming back?] .. I'm sorry.

[parmi_le_bleu]

'Preciate it.
Not that you have any reason to be, but- yeah.
That kind of thing is.. Well. It's soothing to hear.

[There isn't a drop of sarcasm in his voice. As much some much takes this shows as offerings of pity- Edward considered sympathetic shows & apologies to be meaningful exchanges of encouragement. It meant something when another human gave enough of a damn to hurt when you did.]