[Audio]

[neverfeltthatway]

[For once, Armin sends only his voice and not his image over the network - something anyone paying attention might note is unusual, if not without precedent.]

Hello, everyone. I... I have the list of Travelers who disappeared this jaunt. Meaning they've probably either gone home, or they're stuck in a dungeon somewhere and they'll turn up again later.

It may not be a complete list, but... it's the closest I could get. [He takes a deep breath.] Here goes: Giovanni, Kain, Ravit, Ace, Shuu, Quinn, Ruvik, Souji - er, Souji Okita, that is - Tsurumaru, Annabel, and Ky.

I'm sorry.

Comments

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin is quiet for a moment, as Mai feeling the same way seems to put things into perspective for him. When he speaks again, his voice is much more solid and determined.]

We'll just have to do better next time!

[neverfeltthatway]

...Try not to worry about them too much, Chizuru. People who got stuck in dungeon portals often don't experience the passage of time the same as ours. It doesn't seem as long to them - and they always come out of it okay.

[He honestly doesn't know if he believes everything he's saying. But for Chizuru's sake, he does his best to sound confident.]

If they're in a dungeon portal, we'll rescue them. They'll be all right. I promise.

[neverfeltthatway]

It's nice to meet you too... Black Souji.

[That's just weird, but he seemed excited about it in the conversation he suggested it, so Armin doesn't see any particular reason not to call him that.]

[neverfeltthatway]

Oh. Okay.

[Armin's quiet a moment, not really sure what to say to that.]

...Do you believe in the Catholic God, then?

[howexciting]

No. I did, once. It is... rather complicated for me to explain.

[upcard]

R-right...!

[She knows that it won't be easy, but...when he sounds so firm and certain, she can't help but believe him.]

We'll all do it...we'll all do better together. I'm...I'm sure of it!

[neverfeltthatway]

I'm s-sorry if that's too personal! I was just curious.

I... I've never really understood religion very much.

[neverfeltthatway]

[...You just can't be negative in the onslaught of all that optimism.]

It's a promise.

[As if it were as simple as that. Even so, for Mai, and for humanity, he'll try.]

[howexciting]

No, not terribly personal. [A sigh.] But being kidnapped by the son of the Pope and being forced to craft war machines under threat of death does tend to shake one's faith in the earthly representative of God and Jesus Christ.

I do not like to talk about it much, given that the Pope's son, Cesare Borgia, once appeared here, in Liminal Space. Strangely... he did not seem to recognize me.

Do any of us ever really understand religion?

[tealeafs]

[ Telling Chizuru to not worry too much is like telling her not to breathe, you know-- it's going to happen regardless and everyone knows it. Not that she isn't going to try and agree with him all the same. The last thing she wants right now is for anyone to worry about her when they should be worrying about the poor missing people. ]

Yes, it's true.. Um, I mean, it's not like we haven't pulled people back from those places before. [ Even some of their group had returned - even if it was only to be pulled back a little while after. ] I just hope it isn't too hard on them in the meantime. Even if people like Okita-san are strong, that sort of thing could be too much for anyone..