I hope she does. I hope everyone does. I won't blame anyone for not being able to make it though -- it's a journey, and everyone's been busy with their own lives. I can't remember the last time I saw half of them...

[ The commoners especially. After war had been declared, they scattered to the winds -- off to take care of their families, Claude supposes, to try and secure their present and their future, their worries both smaller and far more pressing than Claude's own. If he were a better friend, he would extend some of his resources, take care of Raphael's grandfather and little sister, Leonie's village.

He's not that good a friend, though. That's more than he can muster, with so many other priorities taking form. He grins at Marianne, shaking it off. ]

Don't worry. Even if she doesn't, I'll fly out there and grab her myself. Then, hopefully, she'll know it for real. Until then... it's not so bad being stuck here with you. Maybe it's helpful we got to skip the getting-to-know-you bit, or else maybe we'd never be friends at all!

[ Marianne is shy, retiring; Claude could have easily skipped right past her out of thoughtlessness alone. ]

I'm glad we finally figured that all out. Different realities... [ He shakes his head. ] I hope somewhere out there, a Claude and a Marianne are having tea, without having to deal with a war at all.