[ Simon’s face falls before he can catch himself. Somehow, he hadn’t expected Markus to know that, even though he’s starting to see just how involved the latter is in the Displaced’s affairs. ]

Catherine, [ he confirms, though it comes out more hollow than he intended, and looks away. ] Yeah.

[ ...he was going to pretend everything is fine, but Markus already knows about it and he’s right here, so he becomes the sounding board for Simon’s feelings now — some of them, at least. He can barely articulate all of his feelings about Catherine’s disappearance. ]

I don’t know why it had to be her. She- she should be here. There were things I should have said to her when I had the chance, but I didn’t, and now—

[ he rubs his forehead pensively. ] Where do they go? The people who disappear?

[ It doesn’t feel pointless to ask, even knowing that nobody seems to know the answer to this question. Simon is comfortable with dumb and futile questions. ]