[Audio]

[neverfeltthatway]

Hello, everyone. I... I have the list of those who have vanished. [For once, Armin doesn't use his image when making a broadcast, and he's definitely shorter and more terse than normal. It's definitely unusual, for him - but anyone who knows him well enough to notice might figure out why as soon as he starts reading off the names.]

Ivan. Levi. Joscelin. Yua. S-sansa. Adachi. Neeshka. Hitsugaya. Sera - umm, the unfriendly one. And Xaldin.


[Locked to former Illuminated]

I heard some of what happened during the walkabout. If you don't mind, I'd like to hear more about it from each of you in person. When you're feeling up for it.

Comments

[rustyhonesty]

[He's not buying that.]

Where are you?

[neverfeltthatway]

[Blink, blink.]

I'm in... my room.

[There's the slightest hesitation before the word 'my'. If Jean was listening to his conversation with Zatanna, he likely knows why.]

[rustyhonesty]

[Even without it, Jean can figure why he'd hesitate.]

Wait there.

[That's the last message, before Jean makes his way to Armin's room, and knocks.]

not sure if Jean knows the cloak was a present from Sansa? He's been wearing it a while, though

[neverfeltthatway]

[There's a long pause, but then Armin opens the door. His red eyes and puffy cheeks make it clear he's been crying, even if he's not right now. He's dressed casually, in dark, modern clothes Eren gave him during the last jaunt - except for a marvelous thick woolen silver cloak. The cloak bears the wings of freedom, but if Jean is observant, he'll also notice a small direwolf sigil as well on one of the bottom corners. He'll also notice that virtually every sign that this was Sansa's room too, all her books and clothes and decorations, seem to have vanish from sight.]

Hey, Jean.

[He stands aside to let Jean intro the room, closing the door behind him and moving back to curl up at the head of the bed, clutching the cloak tightly around him. He leaves plenty of room for Jean to sit further down along the bed, and there's also a wooden chair in the room he can sit on as well.]

we can handwave him knowing or not, either works for me

[rustyhonesty]

Hey.

[The room seems somehow huge for just one person. There are only things Armin would have, but it still felt like it definitely wasn't a one person room before.

Jean takes careful steps inside and returns his gaze at Armin as he goes back to the bed.]

'I'm all right' my ass.

[That's said bluntly before he walks down to Armin and offers him a small hug. Not that he's used to hugging anyone of the same gender before, but he can't just sit down without at least trying to comfort him a little.]

It's okay. Let your damn feelings out.

[neverfeltthatway]

What? I... [That's as far as he gets before Jean pulls him into a hug and he freezes, taken off guard. After only a moment, though, he relaxes into the hug, letting out something of a shaky breath. Eventually, he put his arms around Jean and returns the hug for a couple moments before pulling back.]

I'm okay, Jean, really. [He takes a deep breath.] It hurts. But it always hurts. I've lost people before. And she wouldn't want me to fall apart over it.

[rustyhonesty]

You sure? It feels like you're putting up a brave front.

[He sits down now though, on the chair next to the bed.] I'm sure she wouldn't want you to bottle your feelings either.