[Armin's never hear the word "polyamory" before, but it isn't difficult to figure out what it means (what with the root words and whatnot - he's a smart guy). Subtle as a sledgehammer is right. Armin lets out a breath of a laugh.]
Well...
Would that be...what we're doing? With Eren, I mean.
[Not the most familiar word in the world to Aubrey either, really.] I… guess so…?
Isn’t that when a guy has a bunch of wives? [A little confused, but she got the spirit. Kind of.] I know he loves you all—you, Mikasa, Reiner—a lot. And I wouldn’t want that to change.
[She makes the latter assumption, mostly because it seems to her like Eren already has multiple… partners? lovers? Armin’s better at the word games, clearly.]
[It feels strange, thinking it over. But not unwelcome. The world really seems to be pushing her and Armin together, but she meant her vow to Eren. Isn’t that… unfair, to him? Both ”him”s?]
[After a good pause;] Can I say I’ll think about it? [As if this is a world-ordained question, and not from Armin being ever patient.] And talk with Eren, too.
[Sixty-six...Armin sees the question and can't help but laugh; seems he's been doing that a lot this game, if only to avoid getting frustrated.]
Yes. I have.
[As if it isn't obvious. But the world beckons more honesty. The voice asks: "What was it like, Armin? Your first time with Eren?"
[At this, Armin feels his face burning hotter than it has the entire game. He hesitates for only a moment, realizing quickly that a memory could easily be shared if he isn't honest. To this end, he blurts out the initial answer:]
It was beautiful.
[There's a painful stab in his chest. It was beautiful. It was perfect.]
We were...young. Uhm. Neither of us really knew what we were doing, but...
[It's so painful to recall. Armin doesn't notice his hand lightly gripping his chest, just over his heart.]
I just...fell so in love with him. It was gentle, and...he was so honest. I don't know how else to describe it, I'm sorry. [Is he apologizing to Aubrey, or trying to placate the universe?]
It was perfect.
[There's only a brief, brief flash; nothing exposed, entirely innocuous. Just stormy green eyes, filled with tender tears. They blink and the memory ends.
[At the “bonus” question, Aubrey wants to bark out a protest immediately; she’s not allowed. It doesn’t have anything to do with the prompt! What gives?!
[She turns away instead, embarrassed for him; both of them, really. The flash, too—not that she’s never seen him teary, never seen him soft, but that’s… it’s different. More vulnerable, somehow. And it’s not hers to dwell on. It is not hers to dwell on.
[Eren’s movement gets her attention before she can sputter anything dumb; and then he’s all she’s looking at, though her face burns for Armin, too.] Sorry— sorry, we’re being asked more than you can hear. [Aubrey strokes at the tension in his face, trying too soothe but hasty from nerves.] I know he wouldn’t have shared that if he didn’t have to.
[A glance to Armin; ah, the way he holds his heart....] Hah. [She’s not smiling.] This game sucks.
[Armin isn't smiling anymore, isn't laughing. He watches Aubrey stroke Eren's face until it evens back out in the peace of sleep. All at once, he's desperate for him to be awake. This is wrong. He has no say in what's happening...]
Still...[A glance at Aubrey.] At least we trust you.
[Armin’s not on the couch and Eren’s not there. He’s on a swingset, and it’s sunny outside. There’s a faint echo of kids laughing; if he looks around, he’ll see a whole playground. Boys he won’t recognize, Kel and Basil, are digging up worms and sifting through flowers; Mari talks with Hero (Kel’s older brother; the family resemblance is clear, even as shadows) at a bench, technically watching the younger crowd, but mostly engrossed in their conversation.
[There are two swings. On the other, Aubrey is still across from him; about 12 now, maybe younger. He’s seen her.]
You know, don’t tell Kel this, but… Before I met you guys, I didn’t really fit in anywhere. Even Basil… well, he won’t let me talk for hours and hours like you do.
[She rocks the swing a little. Not enough to go anywhere, just an idle, uncertain movement.] Do you think we’ll be friends forever?
Edited (title number + slight rephrase) 2023-12-03 22:05 (UTC)
[Armin has seen memories, scenery changes, etc. before. He's even seen a facsimile of Aubrey at around this age, but...he's never actually gotten the opportunity to talk to this younger version. It's more than a little jarring, but her question - her confession - is so earnest, that he forces his face to soften out of shock.]
Of course we will. [How could he do anything but reassure her right now?] I promise.
Really? [Her face (which she does have, by the way, in full) brightens.] Thanks. You’re a really good friend.
[A muffled “whoa!” from the shadow boys; seems they dug up something really interesting. Kel jumps to his feet and hurries to the older two, Basil chasing helplessly.]
[Aubrey’s brow pinches, watching them run off.] You’re not just saying that, right? I won’t get too upset if you are… I know everyone leaves eventually.
[Oof. It's not an unfamiliar sentiment, sure; Armin knows well enough the temporary nature of people that he loves. Still, in a context such as this - someone choosing to leave instead of being taken--
[Well. He knows that pain pretty well too.]
I did say it was a promise, remember?
I'd like to be your friend forever, Aubrey. Even if we have to be apart sometimes. I'd never forget you.
[Considering Armin's been literally shot in the face before, the pinky feeling as though it's been torn off certainly isn't the worst thing he's ever felt (Eren leaving was worse, for example). Still, it definitely hurts, and it's certainly shocking. Once they're both back in the living room, and Aubrey is back to normal, Armin can't wipe the shock off of his face.
[He flexes his pinky a couple of times, one hand gripping the other.]
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Well...
Would that be...what we're doing? With Eren, I mean.
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[Not the most familiar word in the world to Aubrey either, really.] I… guess so…?
Isn’t that when a guy has a bunch of wives? [A little confused, but she got the spirit. Kind of.] I know he loves you all—you, Mikasa, Reiner—a lot. And I wouldn’t want that to change.
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[...]
Is that something you're interested in...?
[Does he mean "for Eren" or does he mean "for you also, Aubrey"? He leaves it open to interpretation on purpose.]
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[She makes the latter assumption, mostly because it seems to her like Eren already has multiple… partners? lovers? Armin’s better at the word games, clearly.]
[It feels strange, thinking it over. But not unwelcome. The world really seems to be pushing her and Armin together, but she meant her vow to Eren. Isn’t that… unfair, to him? Both ”him”s?]
[After a good pause;] Can I say I’ll think about it? [As if this is a world-ordained question, and not from Armin being ever patient.] And talk with Eren, too.
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I hope it doesn't seem like I'm pushing the issue. Eren should be involved, absolutely.
I guess I was only curious.
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Mm…
I don’t hate the idea. For the record.
[She has learned nothing from these forced honesty games.]
[And feels bad, for some reason. Aubrey coughs.] Uh, whose turn is it, again…?
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[His heart feels...warm and anxious.]
I think it's my turn. [And sure enough, the numbers roll.]
112. Have you ever been skinny dipping?
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[An exasperated whisper:] Jesus christ.
No.
[It feels awkward. It’s not the question’s fault.]
[New roll.] —Oh, come on.
Sixty-six.
1/2
Yes. I have.
[As if it isn't obvious. But the world beckons more honesty. The voice asks: "What was it like, Armin? Your first time with Eren?"
[At this, Armin feels his face burning hotter than it has the entire game. He hesitates for only a moment, realizing quickly that a memory could easily be shared if he isn't honest. To this end, he blurts out the initial answer:]
It was beautiful.
[There's a painful stab in his chest. It was beautiful. It was perfect.]
We were...young. Uhm. Neither of us really knew what we were doing, but...
[It's so painful to recall. Armin doesn't notice his hand lightly gripping his chest, just over his heart.]
I just...fell so in love with him. It was gentle, and...he was so honest. I don't know how else to describe it, I'm sorry. [Is he apologizing to Aubrey, or trying to placate the universe?]
It was perfect.
[There's only a brief, brief flash; nothing exposed, entirely innocuous. Just stormy green eyes, filled with tender tears. They blink and the memory ends.
[Armin hates that it's been shared...]
2/2
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[At the “bonus” question, Aubrey wants to bark out a protest immediately; she’s not allowed. It doesn’t have anything to do with the prompt! What gives?!
[She turns away instead, embarrassed for him; both of them, really. The flash, too—not that she’s never seen him teary, never seen him soft, but that’s… it’s different. More vulnerable, somehow. And it’s not hers to dwell on. It is not hers to dwell on.
[Eren’s movement gets her attention before she can sputter anything dumb; and then he’s all she’s looking at, though her face burns for Armin, too.] Sorry— sorry, we’re being asked more than you can hear. [Aubrey strokes at the tension in his face, trying too soothe but hasty from nerves.] I know he wouldn’t have shared that if he didn’t have to.
[A glance to Armin; ah, the way he holds his heart....] Hah. [She’s not smiling.] This game sucks.
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[Armin isn't smiling anymore, isn't laughing. He watches Aubrey stroke Eren's face until it evens back out in the peace of sleep. All at once, he's desperate for him to be awake. This is wrong. He has no say in what's happening...]
Still...[A glance at Aubrey.] At least we trust you.
[He feels nauseous. The numbers roll.]
Fifty-six. Do you consider yourself clingy?
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I trust you, too.
[Aubrey’s lucky she blurts that out before the question hits. Right through the heart.]
2/2
[Armin’s not on the couch and Eren’s not there. He’s on a swingset, and it’s sunny outside. There’s a faint echo of kids laughing; if he looks around, he’ll see a whole playground. Boys he won’t recognize, Kel and Basil, are digging up worms and sifting through flowers; Mari talks with Hero (Kel’s older brother; the family resemblance is clear, even as shadows) at a bench, technically watching the younger crowd, but mostly engrossed in their conversation.
[There are two swings. On the other, Aubrey is still across from him; about 12 now, maybe younger. He’s seen her.]
You know, don’t tell Kel this, but… Before I met you guys, I didn’t really fit in anywhere. Even Basil… well, he won’t let me talk for hours and hours like you do.
[She rocks the swing a little. Not enough to go anywhere, just an idle, uncertain movement.] Do you think we’ll be friends forever?
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- is so earnest, that he forces his face to soften out of shock.]
Of course we will. [How could he do anything but reassure her right now?] I promise.
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Really? [Her face (which she does have, by the way, in full) brightens.] Thanks. You’re a really good friend.
[A muffled “whoa!” from the shadow boys; seems they dug up something really interesting. Kel jumps to his feet and hurries to the older two, Basil chasing helplessly.]
[Aubrey’s brow pinches, watching them run off.] You’re not just saying that, right? I won’t get too upset if you are… I know everyone leaves eventually.
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[Well. He knows that pain pretty well too.]
I did say it was a promise, remember?
I'd like to be your friend forever, Aubrey. Even if we have to be apart sometimes. I'd never forget you.
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Wow! Never? [The smile returns—and stays, this time.] Never ever? Never never never, ever~? [It’s extremely childish.]
[She holds out a pinky.] Then I hope we’ll always stay together, no matter what!
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Me too, Aubrey.
Do you know what Eren always said about pinky promises?
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[Her hook is stronger, tighter than a kid’s has any right to be. Unclear if that’s a trick of the universe or not; she looks perfectly relaxed.]
What?
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[And he leans in, lightly biting his own.]
1/2
[She giggles. Thumb bite in three, two—]
2/3 I lied
[—one. The girl explodes into a swarming mess of pitch black scribbles, consuming the scene.]
[Armin will feel as though his pinky’s being ripped off.]
3/3
[They’re back on the couch.]
…Yeah. Ah guesh ah’m [“I guess I’m”]—
[She spits out her thumb, confused.]
Are you okay?
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(Eren leaving was worse, for example). Still, it definitely hurts, and it's certainly shocking. Once they're both back in the living room, and Aubrey is back to normal, Armin can't wipe the shock off of his face.[He flexes his pinky a couple of times, one hand gripping the other.]
Am I-- Are you okay?
What...was that?
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