[Mari catches the illusion, too, when Armin does. She doesn’t stay there. What kind of cruel world…?]
I know he won’t be gracious. [A grim statement, but resolved nonetheless. The least Mari can do now is free him—if only for Aubrey’s sake.]
[Without further delay, then.]
It was dark.
[And just like that, the lights die again.]
What else can you remember?
[Armin thinks of the way titan flesh looks as it rapidly decays.]
There was steam. Probably a lot of it. Is that right?
[Her brother’s imagination is leagues stronger. Maybe the world is particularly kind to ghosts.]
From the flesh. [And it was difficult to tell in the dark, but…] It may have come from him.]
[But surely most of it must have disappeared by now. And yet, undeterred by sealed bars—a thin trail, floating up from the abyss.]
[They must be right where Mari stood. Eren isn’t far, then.]
[Mari speaks again, and he recognizes the voice instantly.]
Bitch.
[His voice croaks, left hoarse and raw by the screaming. God. How long was he screaming? He launches himself onto his feet, fists yanking at the bars.]
Where is she? Don't fuck with me again. I'll tear your fucking throat--
[Armin's voice is both firm, gentle, and drenched in relief. Reaching out blindly, he finds Eren's hands, wrapped around the bars. He lays his own over them, thumbs stroking gently at whatever flesh he finds.]
It's alright. There's been a misunderstanding. Aubrey's okay.
[Eren can't hold back the relief in his own voice. He sounds young again, weak. Armin...]
Where is she?
It's okay. We'll find her.
[So it is.]
[Everything Eren and Armin said lines up. It must be true, then. (…Give or take some… embellishments… from Eren.) And while Mari doesn’t know if that makes them good or safe people, exactly…]
[She plays, softly, a major chord. Maybe there was no trick to this, either; the bars in Eren’s hands drop to the floor, releasing him.]
Stop. I said there was a misunderstanding-- Eren, stop. This is Aubrey's friend, and she's going to help us. She didn't know.
[Finally, as he stills, save for a heaving chest, he manages to spit out a few words.]
What happened to her?
[Aubrey and perhaps Armin might be certain of Eren’s humanity; Mari, less so. But the gambit worked (if such an impulsive, oddly sympathetic move could be considered strategic), at least in proving Armin’s intentions. From the sounds of it, he may as well be restraining a slobbering dog, not a friend.]
[Mari allows the silence, as Eren catches his breath. She owes him an apology. She leashes that, too, for now.]
We were just with her. [There’s no particular emotion in her voice.] The world replaced her with an illusion.
[Recall that Eren was not there for Bertholdt and Armin, nor is he aware that the world replaced him with an illusion only recently
This is bullshit.
[With that, he shoves past Armin into the darkness, but fuck. At least it's not a cell.]
Keep up if you want to follow.
[The room remains dark. They might not see that Eren has vanished, but he has.]
Eren!
[But it's too late. Always running off on his own. Reckless with a one-track mind; that's Eren Jaeger. Armin's heart mourns.
[Through will of his own, he conjures a small light, just bright enough to illuminate he and Mari's face.]
It's like I said...
Eren and Aubrey have more experience here than anyone.
[And they made a promise. A promise to stay together.
[These days, Armin can't see Eren making that promise for anyone else.]
She'll be safe with him.
[He's as assured of that as he sounds. They really are in love, aren't they?]
welcome to the meme bus, strap in and enjoy(?) the ride
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headhooligan
2023-10-21 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
[This world’s got a weird sense of humor. It’s the question room again, random-rolling ceiling and all, but… different. Themed. And it’s not Eren she’s standing across from.
[Well, this’ll be embarrassing for everyone involved. The look Aubrey gives Armin as the numbers fly is mildly bemused, and she hopes it conveys “oh my god, I’m sorry you’re about to experience this.” At least the first question dings with something… maybe less incriminating?]
Thirty-two. “Would you ever marry for money?”
[Before they begin, a quick:]
It’s good to see you again, Aubrey.
[Onto the matter at hand.]
I can’t say I would, no. I’ve never been someone with money. I wouldn’t even know what to do with it if I had any, honestly.
[To his credit, there are no cracks in his little facade (yet) when he says:]
Love is more important.
[Answering these questions as they progress will be…interesting, considering the company and circumstances.]
[Armin’s greeting reminds Aubrey that, the last time she saw him, she’d just detailed the oft-sordid outline of her and Eren’s relationship. It feels far away now, enthralled as she’s been by Eren once more…
[For now, though, she can relate to Armin’s answer wholeheartedly. Aubrey nods.] It is. Money’s a shallow reason, anyway.
It’s good to see you, too, Armin. Sorry about… whatever happened back there. [And since the world is allowing this non-question detour,] But Eren’s safe now. I was just with him.
[With an affectionate (toward Aubrey) smile, knowing. If Eren weren’t alright, Aubrey would be in a much different state. Armin appreciates that.
[The questions role.]
Forty-seven. Do you enjoy fairytale romances?
-lights flickering on and off- welcome to hell! welcome to hell! welcome t
headhooligan
2023-10-21 03:42 am (UTC)(link)
[“I figured”…? —Oh, right. She really hasn’t been subtle. Hard to be too embarrassed, though; Armin gets it now.]
[The question, instead, gets the mildly sheepish side glance.] Hah, I… used to. Maybe I still would? [No point trying to lie.] I don’t believe in them, but it’s… a nice fantasy, I guess.
[And thus, another roll.]
Fifty-five: How do you feel about pet names?
[Who’s left to believe in fairytales at this point?]
I can’t say I’ve ever been called a pet name as anything other than a joke. [A short laugh.]
I’m not sure how I’d react.
[“Armin” in the right voice was good enough.]
That’s kind of sad. [The thought leaves her mouth before she can think better of it.] Not even, I dunno, ’Min?
[Is Aubrey in a place to call Armin any sort of nickname? Probably no. Has the girl who named an aubergine toy “Mr. Eggplant” and a rabbit “Bun-Bun” gotten better at naming things? Absolutely not. Does she want to see how Armin will react anyway? Yeah.] Hope that’s not too close to a joke or anything.
[If he’s in a bad mood, he doesn’t show it - and the name catches him by surprised.]
‘Min? [Does she…want to call him that?]
It doesn’t feel like a joke. You…could call me that if you wanted.
[A little smile.]
I wouldn’t mind.
[Hmm. All Aubrey can gauge is a vague sort of confusion. And a maybe-just-polite smile, but that’s Armin. He’s not one to show openly when he’s upset, anyway, is he?]
Just knocked a syllable off. [Small shrug.] Wasn’t sure if you’d take offense to it sounding small. [Y’know, “mini”…
[A beat. Then an absent, quick smirk.]
A diminutive.
Well, when you put it that way…
[It comes time to check for the next number.]
The next one is fourteen. What’s the best date you’ve ever been on?
[Oh, easy.]
[On something of a subconscious instinct, her left hand travels to her nape, rubbing at it as she recalls.] Eren took me to a tree once. [Aubrey’s face warms and she glances aside. There’s a faint smile in her voice.] He said it was special to him. It was… really nice.
[Never mind the preceding misery. That made it better, somehow; that she was a bloodshot, ragged mess, and Eren kissed her anyway. Eren Jaeger kissed her, illuminated by moonlight and fireflies, and they’d never felt so close before.
[The dance was wonderful, too, but… Aubrey kinda ruined that, in the end. Maybe next time, if they ever dare....]
[Lost briefly in the memory, Aubrey is oblivious to however Armin reacts immediately. She’s none the wiser about how much that place means to him, too.]
[His smile grows wider. It’s kind. It’s obliging. It’s affectionate. It’s bullshit.]
I’ve never been on a date, really.
Would you like to go next?
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