[Video]

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin image appears suddenly, and though his face is composed, his thoughts are both cautious and alarmed.]

Everyone - be alert in liminal space, and avoid the men's bathroom four floors above where the portal let us into liminal space. The sign of the King in Yellow is still with us.

Comments

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin doesn't want to humanize the Trumps. They do that enough themselves, taking on human form and appearance. Psyche is obviously not their true name, and by keeping to their arcana, there's a constant reminder of what they are. But with Chizuru, maybe...]

I'm... not sure about that. Last jaunt, it might have been more because she was one of the ones working against ROSE. I know ROSE was taking precautions against the other Trumps interfering with her rescuing SAGE.

[tealeafs]

[ .. ah.

Connecting what she said and what Armin says actually makes an unpleasant thought come to her. ]

It could be that the King is just strong enough that the other Trumps can't interfere, but.. [ ... ] What if one of the Trumps is using him or working along with him..? Then it'd be the same kind of situation.

[neverfeltthatway]

...I h-hadn't considered that. I'd l-like to think none of the Trumps would do that, but after what we've seen of the Devil last jaunt...

[It's obviously not something they can rule out.]

We'll have to be careful. It's pretty clear that not all the Trumps are working with the King. I'd even say it's probably that most of them aren't. It might still be worth asking for their help. But... if one is working with him, what they tell us might be a trick, and make things worse.

If... if we ask more than one, and their answers are the same, we can be pretty sure it's not a trick. [After another moment of thought, he nods, looking less uncertain.] Especially if they're two we know aren't working together. Like Psyche and Rose.

[tealeafs]

That sounds like a good idea..

[ Chizuru - mostly - trusts the Lovers enough that she doesn't think they would work along with the King, but if Armin wants to make sure so they can tell everyone else with certainty once they find out.. well, that sounds like an even better plan to her. ]

Do you think you could ask Rose, then..? The next time we have an opportunity to do so, I mean.

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin bites his lip, thinking.]

Is - is it all right if I get back to you? I'd like to ask a couple other people about this first...

[tealeafs]

Of course. [ The answer doesn't even really come with much hesitation. Chizuru has so much faith in other people that she doesn't even have to ask why Armin has to ask other people - maybe he'll need help with it, or maybe he wants some advice from someone a little bit older or wiser than them.

It sounds entirely fair to her. ]

Let's try our best!

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin thinks it's probably worth the risk, but the risk is big enough he wants to consult with some other people first - specifically, people who distrust the Trumps as much as he does. He cares about Chizuru, and values her opinion - but she trusts too easily, and trusting the untrustworthy would be dangerous, for everyone.

She trusts Psyche. But Armin had seen what the Lover's corruption had done on the Grid. Had felt it take over his mind. Anybody who could devise a virus like that, and be willing to release it in both targeted and indiscriminate attacks...

They couldn't be trusted. No matter what persona they presented to the world.

He doesn't say any of that to Chizuru, of course. With Hijikata looking after her, she should be all right - he's most certainly not as trusting, and actually one of the first Armin will go to with this - and her trusting nature, though dangerous, could still help them in their dealings with the Trumps.

He manages a small, slightly grim smile.] Right! I'll let you know.