Tea and Biscuits

[Velma R. Sinclair]

"I'm looking for my home, it really didn't have an official name when I left... we all just called it home. I can't rightly remember how to get back, and I should still have a living brother living there." she informed him, Gene looked at her funny as if to say 'well why dontcha spill your guts out?' she gave Gene a knowing look and he lowered his head. "Ya see, I haven't seen my brother for a long time, and thought that maybe I would at least find out where it is before I disappear in a war" she finished as she tried to remember if she had seen the library while she had been here.

[Robert S. Armstrong]

"I see," said Robert with a thoughtful look, "that's quite a predicament...there aren't many unnamed settlements left in Amestris though...what kind of area was it? Rural, urban, snowy, or desert perhaps?"

[Velma R. Sinclair]

"It was a small mountain town everyone called 'Home', when I left I remember looking for a welcome sign or something indicating the towns name, at the time there was none. But I do remember it was surrounded by mountains, the entrance was a dirt road that lead down the mountain. I know if I saw the entrance to that dirt road again I would recognize it, unless they have a paved road their now, which is fairly likely." she said with a sort of helplessness in her voice. she had no idea what to do, if only she could contact her brother some how.

[Robert S. Armstrong]

"Was there snow year round? Robert said trying to think of all the mountain towns he knew of, "because the only mountains I know of, are the Briggs Mountain Range up North near the border with Drachma. There's an old town out there called Asbec, that used to be a slum housing Ishbalan refugees, but that was 100 years ago."

[Velma R. Sinclair]

Her eyes widened a little bit, maybe he was right, it was at least worth a shot. "Can you show me? On a map of course, I would recognize the area at least." she asked as she seemed to be keeping a burst of over enthusiasm as she sat still and attempted to be a bit more professional than what her basic urge was. Which was to almost leap into action, and go running for the map that showed her the way. Yet she had self control, and managed to keep herself calm, keeping her outburst to herself.

[Robert S. Armstrong]

"Sure thing," Robert said to Velma as he turned to his sister.

"Do you still have that map in the back room?" he asked Rebbecca, "it'll be easier than going to the library."

"I think so, just let me go check," she said as she walked quickly back towards the kitchen and storage area.

"A lot of the customers around here are tourists," Robert said turning back to Velma, "so Becca keeps a map handy just in case...also, if you don't mind me prying, what caused you to leave your home town anyway?"

[Velma R. Sinclair]

Velma paused for a moment, looking at him carefully. "Well, when you are born and raised in a small town knowing their is a whole world out there...one would try and leave. I left after meeting an apparently wonderful man who gave me that chance to leave. My brother stood behind to keep the inn up and running." she explained shortly, not going to into the abuse she was put through, it just wasn't a pleasant subject, but she wore a carefree smile anyway.

[Robert S. Armstrong]

"I see," Robert said with a wry smile, "I'll end my prying there then."

As he waited for Rebbecca to return with the map, Robert thought about mountains in the areas outside Amestris' border. Drachma to the North had many, but Velma's appearance and accent suggested she was more likely from Creta to the West, or Aerugo from the South, but the geography of those two nations was a mystery to Robert, since they were currently in alliance with Amestris.