[video]

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin tries to look professional, but this liminal has been trying, in a number of ways. He keeps his face neutral, but he looks tired - and there's a tension to his expression, just a hint of sadness.]

I have the list of those Travelers who are no longer with us. To be clear, I am only including Travelers who have been here for at least a jaunt. There are too many who both arrived and vanished in the last couple weeks for me to include them all, since I never met most of them. If anyone wants to know whether somebody who showed up during the last couple weeks is still here, however, I can find out.

Nicholas. Istas. Elliot. Byerly. Zatanna. Mikleo. Doujima. Robin. Neeshka. Hal. Sorey.

[He goes quiet for a long moment, before continuing on a different vein.] Most of you will probably have noticed, but this liminal space seems to be messing with our heads - making people more cynical and paranoid.

Eldritch defenses work against this influence.

I'm not sure exactly what this means, but we should be on guard. However, I have searched thoroughly and I can find no trace of the King in Yellow's sign.

Comments

[neverfeltthatway]

Do you... do you want some company?

[rustyhonesty]

As long as we talk about something to distract me... yeah.

[neverfeltthatway]

We can talk about whatever you like. [Armin's aware of how much Jean's hurting, and he just wants to be there for him - in addition to the fact that he knows he's not there for his friend as much as he should be. (But then, Jean knows him much better than he knows Jean.)

And it isn't as if Armin's immune to all this, either. Maybe he's a little less affected by it than the rest, because the people he cares about the most are all still here. But the others were still friends and family, and he's hurt by their loss.] I'll come find you.

[rustyhonesty]

Thanks. I'm in my room ei it's not like you need to look far.

[Well, depends entirelt where he is, but anyway.]

[Action]

[neverfeltthatway]

[It's no more than a couple minutes before there comes a quiet knock on the door.]

Jean? It's me.

[rustyhonesty]

[After a little while, Jean opens the door.]

Hey. Come in.

[neverfeltthatway]

Hey.

[He walks into the room. Turning to face Jean, he hesitates a moment - then steps forward and embraces the man, holding tight.]

I'm so sorry. [The words are slightly muffled against Jean's shoulder, but clear enough to understand.]

[rustyhonesty]

[The hug is a small surprise, but definitely not an unwelcome one. Jean might have wanted distractions, but there's always time for hugs.]

Thanks... I'll be fine really, eventually.

[neverfeltthatway]

I know. [He's been through it before, after all.] But I know that doesn't mean it hurts any less.

[Eventually he pulls back, nodding once.] Did you have anything in mind to talk about?

[rustyhonesty]

It definitely doesn't.

[There's a soft sigh before he lets the subject mostly drop. It's currently stuck in the back of his mind, so it's not completely gone.]

Actually, I was interested in learning more of Color Magic after Eren's outburst. Perhaps learn one of them.

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin blinks in surprise - he certainly wasn't expecting that, but he can't think of a reason it would be a bad idea, as long as Jean doesn't choose Red.]

Oh. All right. What do you know about it so far?

[rustyhonesty]

[Red reminds of fire and he's afraid of it, so there's a very low chance of that.]

Mostly that you can only learn one color and that before that there's a certain skill you need first.

[neverfeltthatway]

[He nods.] You need to learn colorless magic first - cantrips. They're much smaller magics, but more fundamental.

[rustyhonesty]

That sounds logical. I do have my Champion Magic unlocked now but that's more than likely conpletely different from that.

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin frowns, considering.]

...It might be possible to learn color magic without learning cantrips, since you already your Champion Magic as a base. But I wouldn't really be sure how to go about it. I've never had any other form of magic, so I'm not sure how that would work.

[rustyhonesty]

Well, you said cantrips was more fundamental. The magic I have is just wind attacks and such... so I think I'd like to go that way anyway.