I’m thinking about the gender identity/sexuality of various fma:b characters (post pending) and that brought me to Alphonse, and like-
I feel like Alphonse would be male the way trans men are male, the way Gomez Adams is male - with a delightful amount of decisiveness, of intent. He’s been stuck in a body that isn’t his own for ages, A huge slab of metal that doesn’t reflect how he sees himself and how he wants to be seen at all, and so when he gets his body back he also gets to be a boy, and then a man, in a way he never could before.
He cuts his hair and it’s nice and trimmed and gently masculine and clean, he wears slacks and button-ups and vests and probably, like, a nice pocket watch and a handkerchief in the breast pocket. He gets to be soft and cheeky like a boy and people see him like that, instead of like a soldier in threatening armor. He gets to be a gentleman, to be caring and warm and to grow tall and remain gentle. He gets to carry Mai’s books for her and tell Winry she’s very fetching today (she has motor oil smeared across her nose) and hold the door open for Pinako, and he gets to do it while looking dapper and boyish and delight in it. Edward hates when his facial hair starts growing in because shaving is a hassle, but Alphonse loves it. Loves getting to shave his face, every morning, and trim his hair and clean his nails. Ed gifts him a very, very mild cologne because Al’s sense of smell remains sensitive and easily overwhelmed and it’s one of the best gift he ever got.
Idk I just think there’s something gently delightful about Al being allowed to gender with intent <3
