apprised of his location through her own means , she runs now through the stone streets . it is late enough , she does not wish to be even moreso ... her pace is even / breathing heightened yet maintained at levels she knows instinctively . at this altitude she can run for three - quarters of a mile before she feels any physiological weakness for doing such ; she is all the more grateful . it is the first time she can think she has complaint about a long day behind the desk in the office , only for the reason it has caused her to seek edward at such an hour , as opposed to fateful encounters upon the stairs at a much kinder ( brighter ) hour of the day .
on his birthday of all days , to receive a near - literal arm full of documents to transcribe from hand - written records ... it is some level of ironic . the wintry mix provided by the heavens does not slow her , &. instead is all the more reason for her quick pace . in her hands she carries his gift , the box it is folded within wrapped carefully / all the moreso is the addition on top , held in place by her gentle ( yet firm all the same ) grip .
it feels an age until she is able to draw up to the correct address she committed to memory easily enough , &. the only indication of her run as she knocks is the rise / fall of her chest alongside lips parted to allow silent breaths of greater volume .
eyes shine as he opens the door .
“ edward , ” she realizes she has been out of town for a time / she has not yet been able to reach out to let those ... she cares most for ... know she has returned . arriving so late last night , only to work early this morning -- there’s been no time ‘til now. “ i am sorry ... that i am coming at this hour in the evening , ” the pause in her speech is created by her breath , a ( welcome ) contrast to the deliberate consideration of each word with which she used to speak to him . “ i hope you do not mind that i was unable to let you know before that i had arrived back in amestris . but i did not forget what today is ...” hands extend forward , wrapped paper ‘round the lily atop the box revealing the flower within . that is the start . “ ... in spite of being unable to let you know earlier , i am glad that i am still able to give this to you on your birthday . i had it tailored from landowners in aerugo ... work took me through a bit of the country there , rather than simply the city as is most typical . ”
a man , raising livestock for living / his wife , a seamstress &. able to make products from the wool of their sheep for selling much as the raw material itself .
“ i realize it is a different style than the red one you have ... ” within he will find a black overcoat , made of fine wool &. with buttons in the front . it is a design somewhat more formal than what she typically sees him in ; she will not mind if he dislikes it for that reason ... all the same , she believes it will be striking coupled with his hair / eyes , &. something which can be worn for all occasions . “ ... but i ... you are a handsome young man , ” she has said as much before , “-- and i believe this coat is fitting for the likes of such . i hope you have been able to treasure today , ed . ”
happy birthday ♥
@alchemic-elric