Iɴʙᴏx ✉ Vɪᴄᴛᴏʀʏ Rᴏᴀᴅ

[bertall]

Um... This is Bertolt, and if you're hearing this I'm probably busy. You can leave a message here or call back later if you want? ...Can I start over?

Comments

Voice;

[schachmeister]

We've had one of the nurses check him out. She said... they aren't really certain why this happens. And this sort of thing only happens to us who have come from different worlds. But that it is not an illness or anything they can help with. It just needs time.

And yes, three days. Krieg dropped him off already asleep. Apparently, he found him on the road.

Voice;

[bertall]

Gods, he better be okay. I can't--

_{[Bertolt bites his lip even though Armin can't see it, and he just... stares at his 'gear for a minute. Three days. Three godsdamned days, and Bertolt wasn't there.]}

He wasn't hurt out there at all, was he?

Voice;

[schachmeister]

He's all right. Physically, I mean. He just-- [Armin's breath hitches for a moment. He's worried too, okay.] He just won't wake up.

Voice;

[bertall]

I should've stayed with him longer while I was in Goldenrod. I should've gone with him-- _{[Okay, breathe. Just breathe, take a deep breath, and try to relax. It's not going to do any good to dwell on could've-would've-should've situations right now, right?]} ...I can send Marcel to him. A-And he can keep watch when no one else is around.

_{[It's not something he offers lightly - Marcel has been by his side since day one, and in the rare cases where Marcel couldn't go, Bertolt often didn't go as well.]}

Voice;

[schachmeister]

I don't think you should blame yourself like that. Until this happened to Shiro, I didn't even know it was a possibility. I'm not even sure Jean knew this was something that could happen. And we've all travelled before without any incident.

And, well, I know I'm not actually Jean, but I think that if he would hear you blame yourself for this, he'd probably tell you you're being an idiot. You know how he feels about people overthinking things.

And I think we'll be fine without Marcel. I'm very grateful for the offer, of course, but we are not really in any trouble here. There isn't anything Marcel could do. And aren't you travelling? You probably need him more than we do here.

Voice;

[bertall]

I know--

<sub>[He can't help it though. He's a worrier and a warrior. Mostly a worrier, but still.

The rejection stings though, but... Wouldn't Jean want him to stand up for himself? Or even Reiner? He has to be more assertive--]</sub>

...You know it's not a matter of whether or not there's trouble, Armin. I can't sit by and do nothing while I'm so far away. Jean slept with Marcel and I for so long that it's... He doesn't have to do anything except be there. I can't, so he has to do it in my place.

Voice;

[schachmeister]

I'm just not sure how Blitz is going to react. He's already really on edge and grouchy. You know how protective he can get of Jean and without Jean there to calm him down, he's really... even worse than normal.

Bringing in even more pokemon... he might not react well to that.