Ed blinked. That was... kind of fascinating, really. "How does it work?" He looked over at her, clearly trying to figure it out. Because it just wasn't normal for someone's biology to just change like that.

"I don't really know," Naomi admitted. "I just know that it does. My youki recedes from sunset to sunrise, and I'm completely human for that time period. It's happened ever since I was born, and it happens to all half-bloods. Ones like Osa, though, they don't change, and neither do three-quarters, I don't think."

"Huh." Ed frowned. That really didn't make sense, unless it was some sort of balance thing. "Do you have any times that your human half recedes? Besides losing control. That doesn't count."

"Not really," Naomi replied slowly, thinking. "If it does, it's not even enough to notice."

"Huh." Ed frowned. That was an odd puzzle. And it didn't even make sense. After a few moments, though, he shrugged and settled on the grass again. he could think about it more tomorrow.

"Chew on that one for a while and let me know if you come up with any theories," Naomi suggested. "I'm kind of interested now." It was an interesting concept, really, given the rules that Edward worked by.

Ed nodded and yawned. "I will. Might take a bit, though." He stretched out briefly before getting comfortable. At least it was nice outside.

"Fair enough," Naomi said. She fought back a yawn of her own. "The stars are a bit different here," she commented. "Not a lot, but a little."

"Are they?" Ed blinked. "Different as in it's a different season, or just different?" He looked over at her.

"A little of both, I think," Naomi replied. "I see familiar constellations, but then I see unfamiliar patterns, and some constellations I know should be there aren't. And they're... turned, a bit. Off-center, maybe?"

Ed nodded. "I guess your world isn't that much different in that respect. It's probably in a different place in respect to the stars, though." He shrugged again. He didn't know a ton of astronomy, after all.

"Probably," Naomi replied. "Only slightly different, though. Not a lot."

Ed nodded. "Even that little difference is telling, though," he said quietly. "Just how different the worlds are... And similar, at the same time."

"Not that it's a bad thing," Naomi replied. She stretched a little and settled again.

Ed nodded and stayed quiet, settling down there. It wasn't a bad thing, not really. It was just different and new, and presented new puzzles, which he did like.

"So something's been bugging me for a bit," Naomi said, glancing at him. "It stands to reason you don't have touch sensation in your metal arm. So how do you know how much force you're using at any given time?" It was an interesting puzzle, to her.

"Sometimes I don't," Ed admitted. "That's part of how it gets damaged so often. I can't register the force as well as I can with my normal arm, plus the automail is a little stronger. So I tend to overdo things, and I'm so used to it by now that I don't stop and compensate for that." He shrugged. "Between that, transmuting the arm itself, and getting into a lot of fights, it gets damaged. But it also lets those two experiment with new things on me, so it sort of works out."

Naomi snorted.

"Free hardware in exchange for being a guinea pig?" she asked. "Geeze, talk about being a beta tester..."

Ed snorted. "Yeah, guinea pig sounds about right. So far they haven't screwed me over, though. They know what they're doing." Which was good, because now they were the only two he trusted to touch his automail.

"You sound kind of like me, a bit," Naomi commented. "I've got all sorts of bits and pieces of technology at home, and I'm not exactly kind to my hardware, either." She grinned. "But damn if it doesn't serve me well before it breaks."

"Exactly! I rarely have that many problems with it," Ed said, rolling his eyes. "But Winry freaks out when she sees the condition it's in half the time. You'd think it was a kid or something, honestly."

"I've heard people like her get a little attached to their work," Naomi replied, shrugging. She glanced sideways at him. "And all things considered, Ed, if you have to turn your arm into a sword, that's not exactly 'normal, everyday use.'"

"It is for me," Ed grumbled. Because, really, he didn't think about it anymore. His automail was an extension of his that could and was used to the fullest of his abilities. Including as a sword. And a few other things too.

"Then has Winry given any thought to stainless steel?" Naomi asked. "Or titanium?" Okay, she was mostly teasing. Mostly.

Ed shrugged. "I have no idea. You'd have to ask her about stuff like that." Because clearly Ed just dismissed it all.