[Video]

[neverfeltthatway]

Hello, everyone. [Though overwhelmed when he first returned, now Armin is calm and composed - nearly solemn, almost military in the way he goes about this. He doesn't enjoy this task, but he takes it very seriously.] I'm sorry it took longer than usual, with everything that happened. [Being sent on a different jaunt, not knowing if he'd see any of his friends ever again.] But... I have the list of people who vanished over the course of the last jaunt and haven't come back.

[He takes a deep breath, then begins the list - slowly and clearly, with a small pause between every name.]

Damian Wayne. Jason Todd. Neria Surana. Lucina. Ryuunosuke Ibuki. Sanosuke Harada. Connor Graham. Labrys. Nick Burkhardt. Phèdre nó Delaunay. Oona. Ken Amada. Junpei Iori. Yoon Yoorae. Chizuru Yukimura. Inigo. Takakage Kobayakawa. Janos Audren.

...

I'm sorry. If anyone has any questions, I'll do my best to answer.

Comments

[set_your_watches_for_fun]

You guess, or you ask. It can all become a big muddle, honestly. But quite a few of the names here are ethnically Japanese - I wouldn't know if they were also part of the nation of Japan unless I asked, and since they've all popped off somewhere, that's quite tricky to do.

[set_your_watches_for_fun]

Ah, of course. As you like, love.

[He ... may possibly be screwing with her. That, or he really does use the words so frequently he barely notices when they slip out of his mouth.]

[neverfeltthatway]

...Maybe ask the other people in your group? [More than anything, he hates feeling so useless.]

[neverfeltthatway]

N-no, it's still in the same place. [Humor is also difficult when you're Armin.]

[neverfeltthatway]

[More than anything else, he hates being helpless like this. What can he say?]

...People have come back before. Not everyone. But you might get another chance.

[He doesn't know if that's comforting - it wouldn't be to him, really, the uncertainty can prevent you from moving on - but it's true.]

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin takes a moment to realize what he means by the metal things, but he quickly nods.] The highways, the tattoos, the darkness - they weren't exactly subtle, no. And like I said, after Belljar we lost 2/3 of our numbers.

...But we wouldn't know if there had been any failures before Moebius.

[neverfeltthatway]

...I see. [He's quiet for a long moment, frowning.] It seems like there should be a way to differentiate which one you mean. A different suffix for nationality, or something.

[Private]

[neverfeltthatway]

I'll find you. [No hesitation. He doesn't mind. Not where his friends, not where Yua is concerned.]

[mysunnydisposition]

Yeah. I heard that.

I should... probably be hoping he went home. Damian's a kid, he... deserves to be home.

[ But she can't know that he did, so she's just going to... worry. And feel terrible. And hope he comes back, even if she shouldn't. ]

[prolificarse]

Another complete turnover? Or something more sinister?

[neverfeltthatway]

[Even through his projection over the network, the hint of fear that appears in his eyes is unmistakable.] M-more sinister, I'm afraid.

Nobody remembers much of Moebius. [And what little they do remember, they wish they couldn't.] But something happened to us there. There are many of us who were Travelers before that point, but nobody who could tell you what happened before then.

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin nods. He feels the same way about Eren, though for more complicated reasons. He's needed at home. But still...]

That doesn't make it any easier, does it?

[mysunnydisposition]

No. Not really.

I know it's normal, losing people here. I'm just... not used to it yet. I don't know if I can get used to it.

[Private]

[purseownerisme]

I'm kind of around the workshop area.

[shantiprayer]

Alright, if you're sure... [The view of that door makes her hesitate though.] Is there anyone else I should go find? Or help you find?

[set_your_watches_for_fun]

That would hardly work - with all the different languages at play, everyone would have to agree on something, and we don't even call countries by the same name, I'm afraid. It would all get rather needlessly complicated.

[neverfeltthatway]

Oh. [That brings him up short.] I guess I'm still not used to thinking of a world where people speak different languages. [He sounds a little embarrassed.]

[neverfeltthatway]

I know what you mean. Even if it's normal, I... I don't think I want to get used to it.

[prolificarse]

You've forgotten your lives before that point entirely?

[There's shock there, and horror - such a loss of self seems beyond nightmarish, and inflicted on so many people, all at once...]

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin quickly shakes his head.] Not all of our lives. Just everything that happened before that but after we became a Traveler. Our memories of home are - as far as we know - unaffected.

[creativefool]

Probably will, yeah. [Kind of weird for him to think about, all the same.

Kanji pauses for a bit before he goes on-]

Hey, while we're talkin' - or, y'know - there was something I wanted to ask ya about.

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin looks a little surprised, but nods quickly enough.]

What's that?

[creativefool]

I've been lookin' into magic business for a while. And I was told you were one'f the guys to go to. Had all the books on this stuff...

[neverfeltthatway]

Oh! Just one book, and it's pretty much just the basics. A teacher would be better. What color are you interested in? I can help you with blue magic...

[creativefool]

Eh, basics are fine, as long as I can take a look. And I was mostly thinkin' about goin' for the green spells, if I can work out what's goin' on with them? I mean, I ain't great at theory, but...