Hey, I'm back. Now please enjoy a whole chapter of automail! Also I hid some angst in with the comedy as normal.

A-L-P-H-O-N-S-E

Hey brother, it's been a while. That was my best attempt at writing with my brand new arm. Uh, yeah, I can hold a pencil and slowly just about form letters with it but it's a damn good thing I've gotten used to writing with my left arm.

I've been pretty much out of commission for a while – I can barely remember some of the delirious conversations we've had. It's so weird getting used to this arm. I can move it, sort of, but it doesn't feel like a part of me at all. It doesn't help that I can't feel anything through it. I might have broken two pencils just attempting to write your name.

It's just kinda there. Though my shoulder is killing me and damn is this thing super-heavy – it feels like a bag of rocks – sometimes I still somehow forget it's actually attached to me. Like, I find I keep catching it on stuff. I can't seem to go through a doorway without the hand clenching itself around the doorframe. Winry claims it's me doing it but I swear sometimes this arm just does what it wants. Granny says that'll stop happening once I get used to it.

Oh and of course they say they'll need to do yet another surgery for some fine-tuning – I thought it was over! I swear they sometimes make up new stuff just to torment me.

But wow, I have missed having a proper leg. Even if this thing is super stiff, I can already walk pretty well. It feels so amazing to just get up and go again even I'm still stumbling (and I refuse to try the stairs). I feel like I've been stuck for so long and now I can go anywhere. Also the more I walk, the faster I'll get used to it so I'm going to be constantly on my feet if I can. It's so nice being able to stand up again.

In fact, I've been resting long enough – going to go outside! I'm not going to miss the rest of summer. Not coming back in until the damned thing literally locks up. And you're joining me!

Ed

Hey Al,

I have the worst idea ever.

…I probably shouldn't joke about that, given my track record.

Anyway!

My hair's getting longer. At first I figured I'd cut it again once the surgeries were over. But at this point, I think I like it. I'm gonna grow it out.

On to my idea! I'm going to braid my hair. I have two working hands now. How hard can a little braid possibly be?

Sure, only one of my hands has proper sensations and I can't even see what I'm doing - but I'm committed!

Just imagine… I'm walking through the world and people pass me by, most of them not seeing anything strange. Then someone else with an automail arm sees us and they stop and stare realising that I must be the most masterful automail user for I have completed the ultimate challenge. I have braided my own hair.

Edward

Al,

Did you know Automail is super strong?

I can hold up my whole body with just my metal arm. (No, it's not because I'm small! I'm actually really heavy now, the automail adds a significant amount of extra mass.)

Anyway, Climbing trees is so much fun now! Even if I fell out of a tree, if I land right, the automail can take all the impact. Not that you'd let me try, you've been hovering like crazy, convinced I'm gonna hurt myself. I really appreciate that you want to catch me if I fall but uhhh… that armour is very spiky. Grass is soft.

On the other hand (the metal hand xD), what if I jumped out of the tree and then jumped off your armour and did some cool landing? Taking all the impact on the metal obviously. If we timed it right, you could even launch me back up. You could absolutely propel me some distance with how powerful the armour is.

Ed

Thanks for reading! Why does Ed wear his hair a braid? Who knows. One of the many challenges of being an anime protagonist. Please feel free to leave a review. Cheers!