He’s out and about as per usual - it’s 5 pm and he’s wandered out into the alleys a few streets over from the hotel. It’s not a horrible walk but it’s certainly not a short one. That’s not really a problem for someone who’s used to walking where ever he went however. Food Vendor Alley as the locals refer to it - the usual culprit when it came to winning Edward’s affections and the smells from the vendors have brought back down it’s lanes for probably the thousandth time this year alone.
There’s string lights up decorating the booths and brightly colored bows and bells hanging about the place. Festive decorations line the area making it all the more warm and welcoming than it normally is. Edward has found a second home in this part of town. These people have been doing business with him since he was just twelve years old and much more business since his Commanding Officer was transferred back to Central City - thus moving his base of operations.
A voice shouts and a hand waves into the air to beckon the teenager over to him. Edward obeys making his way over to the man waving to him with a smile on his face, grinning from ear to ear. A tall man, with short brown hair and thick mustache smiles at the young alchemist.
“There’s my favorite guy. I thought I’d see you since it’s about dinner time and all. How’s your brother, Edward?”
“Aw’ight. He’s back at the hotel, readin’ as usual.”
“So it’s just you tonight then?”
“Just me.” The blond grins. “Got any’hin’ new fer me, Thomas?”
“Actually it bein’ the holidays n’ all I wanted ta say thanks for all you do for us. You being’ the Hero of the People and my best customer, have a little drink with me?”
Edward raises an eyebrow at the older man and frowns, but the elder man just grins and pulls out two small cups filled with a dark purple looking liquid and he passes one over to the alchemist.
“Watch me Edward, like this. You put it to your lips and in one swoop you knock it back. You’ll barely taste it.” The man does exactly as he describes knocking the cup back in a single shot to which the blond watches him and pushes the cup to his lips. It smells - fruity - and these people - these men and women all knew him so they wouldn’t give him something he shouldn’t have - would they?
A deep breath as his golden gaze falls closed for a moment as the teenager part his lips and throws his head back and the drink along with it. It’s fruity and it burns. It leaves him coughing for a moment to which the vendors around him laugh for a moment bringing a blush to his cheeks but it’s soon replaced by the sound of clapping and Thomas is reaching forward to slap the boy against the back.
“Not bad. It’s good shit, huh?”
But another vendor just a few stalls down is calling his name.
“Edward, down here!” A man with black hair calls waving the boy down. He holds a cup out to him, about the same size and the one before. “To say thanks.” he sounds. “Drink it just like the other one.”
Edward obeys, knocking it back as quickly as he can and lets out a hissing sound as he fells the burn race down his throat, but before he can recover there’s cheering around him and he’s being summoned down the line again.
“Edward! Over here. I got one for ya too!” This one is a yellowish looking liquid, pale like white grape juice. He takes the cup into his hand and he tosses it back in the same manner as he had the two before it.
The crowd around him erupts with joy, laughter and praise pours out from the people around him, while a kind woman with brown hair is calling his name again, trying to get him to come to her.
“Edward, dear, drink this.” She hands his a glass a little larger than the rest. It’s full of a clear colorless liquid. “I need you drinking water right now. Now eat this, it’s on the house. For all you do for us.” She’s giving him bread to which he devours it without having to be told twice.
“He’s only sixteen.” She sounds, scolding towards the men down her aisle of the alley.
“He’s old enough, Ruth calm down.” Thomas waves her off with a roll of his eyes.
“They let him enlist, he’s more than old enough.” The black haired man chimes in.
“Yeah. He’s a soldier, he’s plenty old enough. He’s sixteen. He’s basically there.” The third man chimes in.
“Edward, don’t listen to them. Eat this, and go home okay? I don’t want you down here tonight.” Ruth sounds ignoring the men who are dismissing her concern. He frowns at her, eating the second round of homemade bread she’s offered him.
“Let’im decide for himself, Ruth! C’mon Edward, come over here!” Another man sounds from down the lane. “He’s a solider and he doesn’t need you treating him like a little boy. Edward is anything but little, ain’t that right son?”
He’s over there in a flash and there’s another small cup of dark liquid being handled to him and he knows when he knocks these back they all get so excited. He’s laughing and he’s smiling, back it goes quickly, disappeared never to be seen again. The man in question is pouring him another round while the other men in the area cheer and clap hands for the young alchemist.
He knocks the second round back just as fast.
“You’re a natural at this son.”
The night proceeds onward like this - men giving him drinks and other vendors in the area waving him over to give him food and then begging him to go home. Begging him to leave. He always just smiles at them and tells them something along the lines of “But I’m havin’ fun.” He’d grin and give a loud laugh.
He’s laughing more and more as the night drags on and it’s seven o’clock before he knows it and something urges him to get moving. The world feels so unbalanced as he walks but he feels like he’s supposed to be somewhere. He’s laughing loudly with a tint of red stretching across his cheeks and over his nose as he walks back out onto the street. Isn’t that Ly’?
A smile stretches out on his lips and he’s waves at her while he laughs like a fool.
