« 005 » fifth circle. action. backdated to the 22.

[disembodied]

[ There's a suit of armor sitting by the fountain today. It's slumped over, birds have landed on the broad shoulders and perched upon the jutting horn. evening is falling.

There's a large, red bow tied around the armor and a note. Happy Birthday Edward. ]

Comments

[automailed]

Awesome! I'm looking forward to this. Oh, and hang on a minute, Al, I'll get you something to wear.

[Zooming off to the bedroom now. His clothes might be a little big for Al's real body, but they should match up well enough.]

[installing]

[Winry ruffles Al's hair once before running off to the kitchen to get everything started. She's sure she doesn't need to run out to get ingredients.]

[disembodied]

[ and then he trashed the living room.

except not really.

al busies himself with wiggling his toes and fingers, rubbing his feet on the floor and feeling the blanket. ]

[automailed]

[It's just a moment later that Edward returns with a button-up shirt and some cargo pants, stuff that's easy to put on. He plops himself down next to Al, offering out the shirt with a grin.]

Man, what a difference, huh? Think you'll need a hand with this?

[He looks so fragile that the slightest movement might snap him like a twig. Definitely need some fattening up, little brother.]

[installing]

[Winry continues to work in the kitchen, mixing the ingredients to make the crust. She'll come back out when she needs to peel the apples. Maybe even make Ed help her with that.]

[disembodied]

I think I've got it.

[ Sort of. He's getting used to taking up a lot less space and is still trying to figure out how his limbs work. ]

[automailed]

[Edward watches over him without trying to watch outright - this is his naked brother after all. But he'll help if Al seems to need any without further comment until he's all settled.]

You know what we need? A wheelchair. I bet I could pull something together with some of the stuff we've got in the house if we- hang on. Hey, Winry!

[He faces the kitchen.]

You've got scrap metal in your workshop, right?

[installing]

Of course I do! Do you need it?

[disembodied]

That's a good idea!

[ He has one arm in. And. It's halfway over his head. Be proud.

...... his arm is stuck. ]

[automailed]

[...Poor Al. Edward smiles faintly and leans in to help, untangling his little brother's arm and getting it through the sleeve. There we go.]

I'm gonna make Al a wheelchair so he can get around.

[installing]

Oh, right! [Winry comes out with a bowl of apples and two peelers.]

Sure, there should be plenty.

[disembodied]

Thanks.

[ Oh boy. Oh boy, he's going to get to smell peeled apples. ]

[automailed]

[Oh, sweet. He doesn't get up to make the wheelchair right away, though, since Winry is joining them in the living room, so instead he settles back against the couch, grinning like a fool.]

Guess we'll have to stick together more than usual for a while, huh?

[installing]

Really you two should just be joined at the hip already.

[She says jokingly as she begins to peel an apple.]

[disembodied]

[ Clothes feel so weird. ]

We'll just have to continue being the Super Elric Brothers.

[automailed]

[The what now?]

At least we match better in size now. Nobody's gonna call you the older brother anymore!

[installing]

And I'm sure you'll just love that, Ed. [She continues to peel. The left over skin of the apples get put back into the bowl.]

whoops misfire

[disembodied]

[ It's better than being known as the Fullmetals. ]

That's right! [ OH MY GOD LOOK AT THIS SMILE. ] It will be the first time that someone will think I'm my actual age! [ if not YOUNGER ]

WE'RE STILL NOT SEEING A SMILE, SHIKKI

[automailed]

[Ed can't help it; he laughs.]

This is gonna change so much.

[And now he will help with peeling! And hopefully not get apple gunk all over his automail. (It'll just add extra flavour, it's cool.)]

YEAH, JEEZ. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT

[installing]

Oh, I don't know. Ed's still kind of small for his age. Once you fill out it might be another story.

I'M SORRY JEEZ

[disembodied]

Well, I was two inches taller to start with. I'll just have to catch up.

YOU SHOULD BE

[automailed]

Hey, don't say short!! You're not allowed to be taller than me anymore!

[installing]

[Winry just laughs. With Ed's luck, he'll start shrinking...! Okay, brb. Imagining 2-foot-tall Ed.]

[disembodied]

I think I'd be okay with that.

[automailed]

There, see? Even Al's fine with it. So it's not that funny.

[HUFF PUFF. Not that he's actually (that) annoyed, it's just the principle of things, okay.]