[Video, psychic bridged to the walkabout]

[neverfeltthatway]

This is Armin, attempting to reach the Travelers on walkabout from the jaunt in Harrogate.

What's going on over there? Where are you, and is everyone all right?

We're still working out what's going on over here. It's 123 years later than the last time we were here, the year 2020 - in many ways it seems like a modern earth so many Travelers are familiar with. We arrived during the funeral of a local beloved celebrity. There are a number of ghosts hanging around, and several Travelers are investigating or infiltrating as ghosts. We're investigating several leads as to the cause of this, as well as to the hints of eldritch dealings at work.

I can only keep this connection open for about half an hour. I may be able to contact you all again in a few days - but I have to use psychic bridge to speak with the investigators on the ghost side of things as well, so that's not a promise.

...Is Eren around? [Because, of course, that was second half of the motivation for making this connection - and for bringing Mikasa along.]

Comments

[private to naoki, mikasa]// psychic protection ii

[neverfeltthatway]

He would want to be himself, to try and be there for me and Mikasa.

[That's not what he wants, but he's not going to lie about it.]

I am asking you, please, to not change him back. We don't want him in danger for our sake.

[private to armin, mikasa]// psychic protection ii

[leftbehindagain]

If it comes down to it, I'm going to go with what he'd want himself. He may well feel better about having made the attempt, even if it didn't work, than finding out about everything after the fact.

[It's the same logic that led him to de-infiltrate Kanji in Greece, even in the middle of all those stupid, bitter arguments about what to do, if anything.]

I'll hold off for now, though.

[private to naoki, armin]// psychic protection ii

[callyourname]

[Huff.] No, he won't feel better if it only ends up being an attempt.

[private forever]// psychic protection ii

[neverfeltthatway]

I can say with certainty that Mikasa is right - he will not feel better if he tries and fails.

Is there nobody else there who would want to be themselves?

[leftbehindagain]

Not that I'm aware of, especially since this is less dangerous by a long shot.

Either way, it's nothing that needs to be dealt with right away, and if I have to disregard your advice, I'm sorry. It's his mind that may or may not be messed with here, so I'm trying to understand the situation better while I have a chance to.

[callyourname]

[Most of her is SCREAMING at how much she wants Eren to Harrogate and how it would be great if Naoki would restore his memories right now to get Eren there even faster but it's not like she's going to say anything about it.]

And if he ends up somehow coming over to Harrogate, that could end up being a lot more dangerous and bad to him by a long shot.

Well, you're trying to understand all sides here, I guess I can ...appreciate it as long as it doesn't mess up his mind. [Even more than it has been messed back home.] Also true, it doesn't need to happen right now. [No matter how much she can't wait to see / hear Eren again. She will wait until the Jaunt ends if she has to.] No need to apologize, I guess, this situation isn't your fault.

[leftbehindagain]

It could, yes, but this is shaping up to be the kind of choice he needs to make for himself. [And that's not something Naoki can deny Eren in good conscience - not after he fought a god over the idea of being able to make potentially stupid choices for yourself.]

At least this way you know you may need to keep an eye out for him. I wouldn't want to send him into that without at least some kind of heads-up.

[He completely understands that they don't want their friend hurt, but Eren almost certainly doesn't want his friends hurt, either, and since it's unlikely he can pull them out of Harrogate, he'd probably rather have a chance to be there with them.]

[neverfeltthatway]

...I see that I'm not going to change your mind.

[Armin's expression is utterly closed off, and his eyes are angry and cold. He closes the connection before he says something unfortunate - it would not help anything to threaten Naoki, or to blame him if anything happens to Eren. But that doesn't mean he doesn't want to, right now.]