[video]// backdated to right after malik's post, filtered from Malik and Rose

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin's expression is hard and angry, but his words are clear and considered.]

I want to make something clear. It's true that Eren may not have acted well with respect to learning red magic. But those spells Malik keeps going on about - ripping someone's heart out, or giving them cursed wounds - those are things Malik can do, not things Eren can. Eren has not and would never attempt to learn such things.

His most powerful spell gives him the ability to fly. His most dangerous spell lights his blades on fire. Neither are things Malik considered or even bothered to learn before mentally violating Eren and Mikasa with a forcible interface after seeing Eren flying. He has said since - openly, on the network - that it was somehow his only option short of ripping Eren's heart out.

[Ripping Eren's heart out - because the boy learned how to fly. Armin falls silent for a moment, as he lets Malik's words speak for themselves.]

Even if I understand why Malik acted the way he did, it does not excuse his actions. And Eren is not careless or vicious with his power, as Malik is trying to make him out to be.

Comments

[papacerberus]

Malik is my comrade and also… part of the cause of his mistake is because of my dungeon, I think.

[bite_the_hand]

Just because you're his friend doesn't mean you're responsible for him. Even if your dungeon did mess with him.

[papacerberus]

Comrades is more than just friends. Comrades are responsible for supporting each other, guarding each other, and being a failsafe against things that could cause harm, including ourselves.

[There is a beat of nothing.]

Although I don't know if Malik considers me a comrade in return.

[bite_the_hand]

[Eren's quiet for a long moment himself. Then finally,] ...Comrades, huh?

Look, I get he has friends here, and Travelers aren't supposed to fight anyway. So I'd been trying to keep this between him and me as much as I could. But you better keep your friend or comrade or whatever he is to you from doing this to anyone else. If he starts trying to control other people like that and his friends don't stop him, then I will.

[papacerberus]

I don’t agree with how Malik chose to handle the situation, but I can’t entirely dismiss his concerns either.

I won’t judge without knowing the man you truly are, underneath the outbursts, but the words you have said just now don’t balance out with what you said then completely. Malik, I think, knows even less than that. While I believe your intent in saying that you would step in and stop him should the worst happen is an honorable one, I’m certain you would only make the situation worse.

If you do, I will be forced to cast Makajamon and Dormina on both you and Malik so that neither of you make mistakes that will lead to war among the Travelers.

[bite_the_hand]

[There's a long, tense moment where it seems as if Eren might start yelling again. But instead he takes a deep breath, and his tone remains calm and even for the time being.]

I'm not the same person I was last time. I went home during the last Jaunt and I... A lot things happened. Things that got rid of that brat for good. I'd been hoping I could prove that to Malik and work with him about Red Magic in the future. But instead of giving me a chance, he started screaming at me before I'd even realized he was there. Screaming about me using a weapon as a toy, when the only thing that spells does is give me the ability to fly. So I'm not allowed to enjoy having wings after a lifetime of envying birds for having the freedom to fly beyond the Walls, when my freedom's been taken from me!?

Maybe I should have talked to him first. But I doubt it would have helped. He acted like he was just pissed he's not the only person that can control this power anymore, so he decided the next best thing was to try controlling me. My whole life I've had people trying to control me. I've never let them before and I'm not about to start now! And I won't let anyone else be controlled either! It's bad enough the Trumps treat us like playthings; a Fellow Traveler trying to force others to follow their will too is something I won't tolerate! It's something I can't tolerate! Letting that happen would go against everything I believe in! If that starts happening there is nothing that could possibly be worse! At least war among the Travelers is better than making slaves of each other!

[With all that said, his voice suddenly turns as hard and cold as steel and as sharp as a blade.] So if he does start trying to do that to other people and I have to step in, what are you going to do about it? I don't know what those words mean - that you said you'd do whatever it is to both of us is the only reason I have to think you're not threatening my life right now.

[papacerberus]

I can trust that you’re being truthful, but I still don’t know you. And my other lives, and what I’ve experienced on jaunts has taught me how easy it can be to behave and speak differently to survive a particular situation.

Malik… just had to watch and live through thousands dying because of a power given to us. My dungeon made him go through my life. That power is just as dangerous as Red Magic, if not more, even if individual skills that can be learned because of it are innocuous, or even helpful, like healing. But comrade turned on comrade, or enemies became even more bitter because of it. Out of all those thousands, only six survived.

That knowledge and memories are a burden Malik must carry now. I wouldn’t wish that burden on those I consider enemy, and I am sorry that one I call comrade must deal with it.

This does not excuse that Malik acted rashly, but I hope it gives you context for his fears.

As for the skills I mentioned, Makajamon will seal your skills and magic for a time. Neither of you would be able to use Red Magic under its effects. Dormina puts you to sleep. This would give me time to call your comrades, and the rest of Malik’s, so that we may mediate the conflict once you’ve both awoken. That might not truly stop conflict, but I hope it would at least stall it temporarily.