[ A few years ago, Edward might have had more trouble believing that a place beyond science and reason existed. He might have had trouble accepting that it could happen at all, and that he could be tied to it somehow, without any hard, fast proof that it should exist at all. But the Gate of Truth proved him wrong then, and the bottomless pits of Father's creations, and now this.

Nothing can be easy. There is so much left to do, and just when Edward had the chance to hope and maybe even believe he could bring Father to his feet, he's brought here. But Mustang, despite all the absurdity around him, seems very real, and for a small, miracle of a moment, Edward listens.

The sound that claws its way out of his throat cracks at the edges, a dark and exhausted sort of laugh. Ed almost sounds like he's in pain. ]

Of course you lied, you bastard.

[ He sucks in a breath and meets Roy's eyes, and as much as he wants to believe this is some strange, twisted mind game, he believes Mustang. He wouldn't lie for the sake of lying, after all. That's effort needlessly wasted. Sure, Edward knows by now that Mustang was hardly on Bradley's side, but hearing him say it outright is one for the books. ]

So don't go around giving me orders now. The effects of Human Transmutation aren't easily reversed. Seems to me like that's something I should worry about. [ Though his words bear some heat, his shoulders relax, his body slumping a little into the doorway. He's losing steam here. ]