[ he digests the opinions carefully, quietly running through different scenarios in his mind. for a moment, it almost appears that he's not listening, but maes and riza should know better -- roy is thinking. and when riza finishes speaking, he allows a long, heavy sigh to escape, frustrated.

all of them are too different, from too many different places, with too many different expectations . . . picking one person to lead them is impossible, having too many leaders is equally impossible, and throughout it all, astoria still has more power than any of them combined.

but in thinking it through, there's a sudden spark in his eyes, and he inhales. something connecting.

it isn't quite checkmate, but it is close. ]

Maybe we're approaching this in the wrong way.

[ slowly, methodically. ]

King Bradley was a puppet, wasn't he? He ruled Amestris with an iron fist, but it was for a greater purpose -- for the Homunculi, and to destroy the city. And the top brass went along with him because he sounded like he knew what he was doing, and they were greedy for power. He was a leader because he promised them something they couldn't have, and they were too stupid to think otherwise.

[ until roy stumbled into their meeting, and king bradley held riza hostage to prevent him from saying a word. but he breezes past that aspect of the story easily enough. ]

Maybe the problem is less that we need a leader, and more that we already have one that is inept, ineffectual, and ruling for her own purposes. Astoria has this place divided down the middle in who supports her, and who does not. Organizing anything that may question her, even innocently, will only serve to divide this place more.

[ and as he talks, the pieces of the plan fall into place . . . ]

Maybe we just need to tear it all down.