The answer was quick, leaving Near to wonder if perhaps Edward simply didn't like juice. It was possible, though it didn't seem very likely that he would ask for it if he didn't drink it. Regardless, Near had no trouble offering Edward part of his meal, since he seemed so keen on it, and Near likely wouldn't eat more than half anyway. So he cut each portion of food neatly into two equal portions. "Take whichever half you'd prefer." Near pushed his tray closer to Ed, but didn't actually move to transfer any of the meal himself.

"That sounds like a simple enough concept." Though it wasn't the how Near had been asking for. "But how do you rearrange the atoms? The technology for such a task doesn't exist in my world." Nor did it likely in Ed's; Near already suspected the process was supernatural in nature. It almost had to be to be accomplished here.

Then of course, the most important question, and really, one that Ed should have been expecting from nearly anyone in this place who asked about alchemy. "If I asked, would you make something for me?"