( dante trails along after her, looking over her shoulder as they both pour over the map of the train lines that run throughout the city. now, it's well-established that charon doesn't use a map when driving Mephistopheles to their next destination, but from how straight and well-ordered the streets are, dante has to assume that if this were a location in the City, it would have to be a Nest. the Backstreets are simply too winding, complex, and labyrinthine to resemble something like this — they might not be an expert on anything at all, but this, they feel at least relatively confident in.

so when faust confirms to them that this isn't a place within their City, they already feel like they've figured that out. still... it's an almost impossible thought. they barely know anything about the City, let alone what lies outside of its borders. isn't it all blasted wilderness and monsters out there?

they are, obviously, afraid. but they try to keep a close handle on it, trying to stand as staunch and steady as faust does before this realization. )

< We must have been brought here by something, then. Or someone? >

( they look to some of the storefronts around them: still brightly lit and open, despite how thoroughly empty this place is. )

< How about - we could try looking around there? > ( now they indicate what's essentially a convenience store, though there is a section around the cash register where magazines, newspapers, and the like are neatly organized. ) < Something might have a date on it, or mention where it is that we are. >