I opened my eyes slowly.
They felt like lead, and I raised my hand to my face to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
But nothing came to my aid.
"She's awake!"
"Owwwww..." I said. "Where am i?"
"Rush Valley! How did you get here?!" A frantic voice asked, and a more calming, older one shushed the other.
"Quiet Paninya. She just had three of her limbs cut off!"
"What?!" I said, trying to move my hands to sit up. My voice sounded different. More...ladylike. upbeat. Attractive. What did that stupid thing do?! I liked my voice!
"Sorry. What's your name?"
"Keira. I'm sixteen."
"How did you lose your arms?!"
"Hello-" a man's voice said, but the girl cut her off.
"I don't know. l- I don't know!" I was starting to panic. I just DIED….Where WAS I?!
If I said I didn't have them in the avatar creator I found before entering here, they would think I'm crazy!
"It's alright, calm down. We are going to put automail on you. Is that alright? We need to ask permission first." The man said.
"Automail?" I asked, confused. Is that...like...I don't know.
Everyone came into focus. There was a older man and a teenage-looking girl standing over me. The girl had a dark skin tone, like she had been in the sun a lot. Her eyes were dark brown, almost black, and a jacket hid her shoulders and below from view.
The man had a lighter skin tone, and had a gruff face, and his eyebrows were white and thick, and his hair was covered by a white bandana.
The teenage girl pulled a sleeve back, and revealed a robotic arm. "This is automail." She said it with passion, like the arm was her life.
"Oh! A robotic arm?"
"Ro...botic?" They said, confused.
"You people have never seen a robot before?! Where do you people live?!"
"Amestris. Where did YOU come from?"
"Earth." I said, giving them a look like they were crazy.
They looked at each other. "I'll take the automail.
"It hurts a lot to put on, and there's a lot of rehabilitation-"
"Yah. That will be okay!"
"Even grown men scream in pain." The older man said doubtfully.
"Why does it matter that it's a guy? Aren't girls just as tough as boys?" I asked. The older man laughed, and the teenage girl looked as if she was going to hug me.
"It's nice to see another believer in feminism!"
"I got you girl!" I smiled.
"You don't have anything!" The girl joked.
"Apparently, no arms at least." I agreed.
"Did...you try human transmutation?" The girl asked, and the man stopped his laughter.
"No. What's human transmutation?" I asked, confused.
"It's alchemy stuff. I had someone come through here once that did."
"Where is here?" I said, and tried to look around. but all I saw were the man and the girl. "And can I sit up please?"
"Sure!" The girl said, and moved from out of my line of sight. There were some unsteady bumps, as the back of my bed was propped upwards.
"Rush Valley? And that's in...Amestris?"
"Yes. The city's known for its automail. Apparently, people dream of coming here." The man said, and the girl and the man shared a smile.
"What are your names?" I said. It was bothersome not to have arms.
"This is Paninya. I'm Dominic LaCoult . I own this place. We found you in the empty town square coming home. You were bleeding out!" The man said, concern laced in his deep voice.
"Nice to meet you." I said. "WAIT-Bleeding out?"
"Your arms, and right leg are missing." Dominic stated plainly, as if this was a normal thing.
"Really?" I said. I knew already, but I acted really surprised. It wasn't hard.
"Yes. Since we have your permission, we can put it on." Dominic said, and the girl looked exited, then seemed to be examining me.
"What kind should we use? Something light...or menacing? Should we have weapons built in?!" Paninya said, shuffling through the shop, standing on tiptoe to reach the high shelves.
"Maybe a knife. A pretty lady like her can't walk around in the bad parts of town for us without a weapon!" Dominic said, getting into the mood.
"Walk around town for you?" I said, confused.
"We aren't giving you automail for FREE!" Paninya said.
I groaned, and they laughed.
For the next few hours, the three of us designed the arms and leg. The cover, the attachments, the thickness, etc.
After we finished all the measuring, I was exhausted. It was like shopping for hours and hours.
It was, in a way. But for metal limbs, not clothes.
The door opened, and the man looked over and stood up.
"She's awake!" The person said, walking over.
"Hello Dimitrius. What do you need?" It was obvious by his tone of voice he didn't like this man.
"I am here for the girl, she is my niece on the wife's side!" The man-Dimitrius- said in a upbeat voice.
"I...I don't know you." I said. It was true. And if Paninya and Dominic didn't like her, I probably should be cautious.
"Is she in shock Dominic?"
"No. She seems to be acting fine. And you don't have a niece on Shelly's side. She is a only child." Dominic said, and I said "OHHhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Burn!"
Everyone looked at me. "What?!"
"Obviously she is deranged. Why else would she be talking in that way?" Dimitrius said, throwing a hand my way.
Dimitrius was very tall, intimidating. He probably went to the gym a lot. Got a lot of girls. Muscular. The ideal man. He was in his mid-thirties.
"Because. That's how I talk." I said, raising my shoulders because I couldn't move my nonexistent arms to give him the middle finger. I wondered if they spoke differently in Rush Valley than Virginia Beach. Maybe it was a different country! I had never heard of Amestris though. Or Automail. Maybe it's Asian or something?
"We have taught you better than THAT!" Dimitrius said. "I apologize. She is from Plux. They have different customs there, I hear. I have never heard that one."
Everyone was silent. I just saw his grey eyes scanning my body like I was, his WIFE or MISTRESS or something. What a perv.
His eyes finally left my chest- man I wish I had arms so I could beat him up, the perv- and found the front counter of the shop.
"She isn't getting automail from you guys! That will make my shop look bad!" He said to the room.
"Dominic 's work is MUCH better than yours Dimitrius!" Paninya protested, slamming her hands on my bed. "HEY!" I said, being bumped out of place, and I couldn't move my arms to reposition myself.
"It's Mr. Lauelle to you!" Dimitrius said. He shut the door to the shop, cutting out the bright sunlight that once filled the room. "And I am taking my niece home."
"Dimitrius, she isn't your niece."
"SHE, has a name you know!" I said.
"Sorry beutif-honey." He covered. Was he seriously going to say beautiful?! Jeez!
"Get out of my shop. She already has a apprenticeship here." Dominic said gruffly, coming from behind the counter and opening the door for him to leave.
I was happy to see him go, but he said he would be back as he slammed the door.
***TIMEHOP***
And he had come back. Day after day, looking me over as he said I was his niece,and Paninya and Dominic were holding me against my will.
And eventually, the town's court got a hold of the case, and split my time half and half with them. One week in the storage space of Dominic and Paninya's shop, and one in the small home of Dimitrius and his wife.
Apparently, they actually did have a niece that looked exactly like me.
I became an apprentice at Dominic's shop, and helped with automail. While he scared off customers, I attracted them. I was the store's poster girl!
Once I had my arms and legs affixed with automail.
It was a creamy, off-white color, with a pearly sheen, with a chrome finish. Mostly for looks, since I never plan on going to combat. Leave that to the soldiers coming in, looking to get tough stuff, or to winter-proof the stuff they have.
The weeks at Dominic's shop were exhausting and taxing, but nice, because I would be able to see the two of them after work, when they weren't focused on helping the shop.
Paninya and I would go on walks in the woods, and since it was late fall, we walked on a once busy road, now abandoned and overgrown. It was the only place boys didn't come looking for me. As Paninya said
"You're pretty enough to turn the heads of every married man in the town, and turn even the most straight of women gay!"
It was funny when we talked, about it, my appearance, I mean ,but when anyone else said something like that, I resisted hitting them across the mouth. 'Accidentally' touching my butt, staring at my chest instead of my face in a conversation. All the time when I went to the store for food or parts, a small crowd of men seemed to join me. I have a pocket knife on my at all times.
Now, it was my last day in the shop, in till I went for another week of pain at Dimitrius' house.
There, I wore exposing yet "proper" dresses, and was drilled from dawn in till dusk on how to act like a lady, how to eat like one, talk like one, BE one. 'Potential suitors' came to the house all the time, but I never liked any of them.
Paninya and I were walking along the overgrown train tracks, and we're laughing.
It was three o'clock on a Sunday evening, so no one was in the shop, so Sominic gave us a rare break, let us go out.
The air was cool, but I wasn't cold. I was wearing a jacket, one you would see in a American store back home. It was strange here, but no one bothered to ask about the strange things I said early on.
'How do you work these stupid non-touch screen phones?!' And 'Alchemy?! That's a thing?! No, really. Really?!'. Things like that.
The trees were various shades, browns, greens, pale oranges and deep reds. It was something from a movie.
"Oh my-" I nearly jumped out of my skin as a large, sleepy snake slithered across my feet. It must have been drowsy from the cold.
We were out there much too long, two friends goofing in the woods. Occasionally we would meet a train crossing, or someone's manicured lawn, and we would turn back.
"It's just a snake Keira!" She said, after jumping out of her own skin hearing me freak out.
"I know- it just freaked me out!"
"The girl badass mechanic that doubles as a proper young lady every other week? Scared?"
"I guess so!" I laughed. "I hope it gets eaten. I hate snakes."
"I know!"
"Hey, I was wondering..." Paninya started, and I knew it was something I wouldn't want to do.
"Yes?"
"I was WONDERING if you, wanted to come with Jack and I to the gun range- it's private property, so no one will be there but us, so...yah."
"You know Dimitrius and Shelly hate me doing anything but proper crap. What time?"
"Tuesday-like, ten o'clock- which is WHY I was wondering if you wanted to come. To avoid them?"
"Sure. I could sneak out."
"Awesome."
Jack Thameson was Paninya's boyfriend. They met when she was doing automail repair when he first moved to town. He was cute, but his heart belonged to Paninya and Paninya ONLY.
Even the most attractive model wouldn't sway him. I know, because he is one of the only my people who sees my face, before my chest or waist. We were good friends. And a meteor strike that wiped out everything wouldn't even faze them when they started into each other's eyes. He wanted to be a soldier, but he took over his dad's shop when he passed. So he loved guns.
She had never invited me before, so I figured she was confident in him. Not to look at me beyond what a friend would do.
Dominic didn't like him, but that was because his business was one of his top competitors in the city. Other than that, he was alright with him.
"We had better get back."
"Yah."
We knew Dominic would be worried, but we took our time, kicking up leaves and staring into the sun.
Soon, we were onto the street. Somehow we diverged from our normal path, and need up near the station.
We soon found or bearings, and headed back.
"Hey girl. Are you lost?" A boy's voice said, and another voice snickered. No more boys. I was having a wonderful time up until now!
"No. Thanks." Paninya said, covering for me.
"We weren't talking to you. We were talking to the automail model."
"You're talking to her right now." Paninya said, hands on her hips.
"Shut up. Don't flatter yourself." the boy said, and placed his hand on my shoulder, and his hand slid down a bit too far, so it touched my chest.
"Excuse you?" I said, taking his hand off my shoulder and shot the boy and his friends a look before returning back around and walking away.
They followed, to my dismay.
"I was just wondering why a girl like you is in a city like this?"
"Because I live here. Now go away."
"Don't be like that beautiful! Say, you have any contacts to get us two single men working? Your pop's got a shop around here?"
"Stop talking to me." I said.
"Would you pathetic excuses for humans go away?!" Paninya said, facing them.
"Was NOT talking to you." The other boy said, speaking for the first time. "We were taking the that sexy fiend standing next to you home tonight."
"Go the hell away." Paninya said. "Or were calling the police."
"Fine. But- see you around beautiful." The talkative boy said, and blew a kiss.
"What, not going to ask for my name?" He said, flirtingly.
"Unless you want it in the police center record for sexual harassment. " I said flippantly.
"You will have to dream about me, wondering in till we meet again."
Paninya and I rolled our eyes and I flicked the boys off.
Apparently that wasn't a thing in Amestris. They had different means of offending people. But I proudly taught Paninya everything I knew.
We laughed, and walked home. That was a regular occurrence knew. Luckily no one tried to kidnap me. I didn't want to send anyone to the local doctor.
Most of them were tourists that had that '#YOLO' mindset. Except they didn't use that term. Or hashtags.
But they were gone after a week, or a month. If they stayed longer, they knew my step dad. Dominic anyways. Dimitrius would sue them, then invite them in for tea, after Dominic beat them up.
We entered the shop as night fell and the bars and taverns were at their fullest. Dominic was only minority upset, but just happy to see there were going to be no upset tourists begging for him to send me to a psycho hospital, or to coalition.
Dominic opened a bottle of whiskey and made a drink, and sat on a couch once covered in parts and tools. It was sort of unusual-he normally didn't drink on Sunday's. Whether it was religion or wanting to look like he is a fit guardian, I didn't know and didn't care to ask. We went to the storage room we stayed in, and turned on the old timely radio- well, relatively NEW for Amestris, but not for back in Virginia Beach- and listened to the hits channel.
We both worked in silence, and I was fixing broken finger joints on a customer's arm (he was using a rental arm) and Paninya was building an entirely new leg. I wasn't that advanced yet.
"AAAAAAND I will travel the .re for youuuuuuuur LOOOOOOOOOVE!-" we sang at the same time, her voice fine, but mine TOTALLY off key.
We laughed, and I dropped the auto mail arm I was working on arm "OH SHOOT!"
Paninya laughed even harder, and I slapped her arm playfully.
"Exited for your date tomorrow?" I asked, already knowing the answer. The radio had slipped into commercials. They were mostly the same, but I hated the silence.
"SOOOOOOOOOOOOO exited. You need to help me pick out some clothes! You know what boys like, right!"
"Not really. They only see my stupid chest. You have Thomas!"
"Yah. But, can you help me? You can sit there, and all you have to do is say what you like!
"Okay!"
She took out a tan shirt with an ivy colored snake wrapping around it. "This?"
"NO! I HATE snakes!"
She laughed and threw it at me, and I reflexively threw it on her bed.
"Okay. Seriously. This...of this?"
"I didn't know you cared this much Paninya!"
"Yah, but I need something that says 'I might kiss you, or I may beat the crap out of you!'"
"Hm. Black boots, tight pants, loose shirt.-Nothing with too large of a pattern-then your grey jacket." I said, with certainty.
"Boots, tight pants, loose shirt...jacket." Paninya repeated.
"You got it."
The commercials ended, and a more upbeat song begun to play.
I loved this one.
I attached wires as I sang, horribly off-key, the lyrics in till Paninya couldn't stand it anymore.
Soon, we settled down and fell asleep, and she stayed up later than I did, working. Dimitrius and Shelly would KILL me if I had bags under my eyes in the morning.