[Character Information] Genderbent Infodump: Edward Elric
This Alternate-Universe Edward Elric is not drastically different from the canon version, but there are several very important differences that might be helpful to know while I try her out. The following traits are things that do not carry over to my version of canon Ed. This is very important. 8|;;
- First and foremost, Edward is a girl. Obviously. This is kind of important. Her name is still Edward because Hohenheim is a dork and fails at names, and Trisha was indulgent at the time. She hates her name, though, and demands that everyone just call her Ed. Because that's... somehow better idk.
- Physically, she is shorter than Edward is at this point. She's probably close to Winry's height, a smidge taller only because Hohenheim is a giant. She's still a bit huffy about her height, but since girls are typically shorter anyway, she doesn't have the gotta-be-a-man bravado to make it full-on rage. She's more likely to tell people to shut up than to start screaming about it.
- Her voice sounds like this (the one with the short hair). CONVENIENTLY HIS VA IS FEMALE.
- Because of the automail installation (which, in canon, covers about half of the right side of Edward's chest) this Ed hasn't really developed balanced breasts, so to speak. Between the surgery, the addition of the port, and the bracing required to keep the arm in place, it's just made a mess of her development. It's not missing, but it's not quite right either. Hence the somewhat joking username (what with the popular belief that Amazons cut off a boob). On the upside, due to her connection with Al's body in the Gate of Truth, she hasn't developed particularly large breasts anyway so it isn't as noticeable as it could be.
- Ed is a weird mixture of tomboy and your average girl. The fact that she's effeminate at all is thanks to Winry. She won't wear skirts or dresses ever, though, even when she's not traveling with Al, because they restrict her movement, and she has some self-esteem issues about her appearance due to the automail (since metal limbs are only attractive to gear heads, obviously) and her breast size as well, and she'd rather avoid the attention, good or bad. She doesn't make a fuss unless it's brought up (in which case she's uncomfortable about it), she just avoids showing too much skin, the same way male!Ed does.
- Because she's weaker than her male counterpart, she has a tendency to get wounded more easily. However, she's also faster, and that means she's better at the barely-dodging death bit. More injuries, but more shallow wounds overall. She also actually maintains her automail, so it doesn't break as often. (Though this doesn't stop it from getting broken altogether- Ed will be Ed.)
- She and Winry are very close; having grown up together as neighbours and almost-family, the two of them hung out a lot more when Ed and Al weren't researching alchemy. Her drive to bring Trisha back sort of got in the way of their closeness, but Ed still considers her to be her best friend. Openly, even. (What, an Ed who expresses feelings now and then? Perish the thought.)
- She calls home on occasion! Generally to soak in a bit of estrogen via Winry. She loves her brother but sometimes you just need to connect with another girl, you know? It doesn't happen often, but it's certainly more than male!Ed calls. They're usually not very long calls, but she puts more thought into how Winry and Pinako might worry, so just a little ring to check in and say where she and Al are isn't that much of a hassle. Overall she's more considerate than male Ed because she's lacking most of the bravado and awkwardness.
- She's had an embarrassing, secret schoolgirl crush on Mustang for a while. Since Roy is pointedly different with women than men (even younger girls- noted by his complimentary ramble when meeting Winry at the train station after the Rush Valley/Dublin arc) he's more of a charmer than a troll with female Ed. This isn't something she ever expects to go anywhere and she's never going to be in love with him (she's a realist, come on, she just thinks he's nice to look at!) and is thus damn quiet about it - the only one who knows about it is her Al, though Winry's probably figured it out. Really the most she ever does is get a bit flustered when he's being particularly nice.
- Ling has proposed to her at least once, as he so often does with the ladies. She turned him down flat, but since it amuses her she sometimes indulges him. She's kind of a flirt with him, since she and Al so rarely get to hang out with boys their age, but since she's still pretty socially awkward (a trait no Ed can escape, apparently) she doesn't get far with it. The relationship thing is still a no-go until Al gets his body back, anyway. (Not that she thought Ling was serious, but it's all in good fun, really.) She's given thought to the idea of what it would be like to go out with a prince at least once, but she hasn't taken it seriously at all.
- She was more forceful in trying to get Hohenheim's attention when he still lived at the Elric household; she was trying to be "daddy's girl" as many girls do, so she barged into his study and cried for attention rather than just watch quietly. Unfortunately Hohenheim is even more awkward with little girls as with little boys, so she was often shooed out of his study. She has the same issues with him as male Edward as a result, but she gives him the cold shoulder to show it more than outright anger and arguing. Of course she'll still bitch about him around other people.
- Female Edward is something of a combined mother-sister to Alphonse, due to them losing Trisha at such a young age and Ed having those maternal instincts develop right along with the sibling relationship over the years. As a result Alphonse doesn't have to act quite so much as a parent and more his age. (I expect Ed to be baffled at a more patient, caregiving Al than the one she's used to.)