[So it’s Armin’s turn to have Eren in his lap. Aubrey smiles, soft and happy; just look at them. They’re beautiful. And even though the world has an idea for them again, it’s nicer this time. Much nicer.]
Hah… I’m glad. [Just a small understatement.] You know, in a way that’s what I was trying to tell you, earlier… staying hopeful. Holding on.
[Again, words falter. But she thinks he understands.]
[Hard to believe, Aubrey thinks; but it’s really not, when he looks to Eren like that. And he’s right; it doesn’t matter now anyway.
[Speaking of now… The last time Aubrey was barefoot in water, ocean waves lapped at her shins. Without them, she almost doesn’t notice they’re at a dock at all until she shifts, finally looking around.
[The boat catches her attention immediately. She’s staring at it quizzically, trying to follow the cables into the distance, as she asks,] Where… are we?
[There was nothing like this by the tree… or in the titan-wracked town, for that matter. For a place enclosed by walls, Shiganshina is bigger than Aubrey thought.]
[…It had more people too, then.
[The smile fades somewhat, at that thought.]
Just… back and forth, huh? [It’s a shallow cover.] No wonder you wanted the ocean....
There are lakes and things like that in the countryside, but before I became a Scout, I'd never been.
This was the closest thing we had to a real body of water.
[He looks at Aubrey, tilting his head to the side just so, as if considering something.]
You know...the more I think about it, it must have been the ocean that drew me to this place. I had this book...
It was illegal. It had information about the world outside of the walls.
Nothing about Marley, or anything like that. Just...bodies of water, filled with salt, that stretch out so far in every direction that you can't see the other side. Fiery water that flows between rocks and bursts out of mountains. Green lights in the sky that look like magic...
[Briefly, he bends forward to kiss Eren on his temple.]
Eren took me to all of those places. When we were talking just before he died. That reality he made...for me.
[When Armin looks at her, Aubrey swings focus back. As he talks, she finds herself a bit lost, watching him; the strength of his own nostalgia, maybe. The story itself. His face. Echoes of awe…
[She sees that in him, still. He kisses Eren, and it means everything.]
[A cabin for Mikasa; forbidden wonders for Armin. Worlds, just for them, in farewell.]
[She loves him; she loves him; she loves them.]
[After a quiet;] And it’s always the ocean you go back to, huh…
[It’s beautiful; it’s jarring; it’s hope— No. Traces of it, maybe. But there was more, and that’s why Armin can’t speak of it as fondly, and Eren has truly always, always, always been on this path, hasn’t he?
[Well. He was. And the ocean ran red for it.
[But Armin can’t hate it.]
[The emotion in his voice tugs at Aubrey; she reaches for his hand.]
I really can't describe how strange it felt to learn that there was an entire world outside of what we knew.
It's easy to talk freely about it now - Paradis, Marley. An island, a continent. But we didn't even know what the word "island" meant for most of our lives. All we knew was what was inside the walls. We might have thought the world outside was worth exploring, but as far as we knew, all of humanity lived inside of those walls...
[He shakes his head, brow pinching together in a pained expression.]
The population of Paradis made up only 20% of the world's population, and we thought that was all there was.
[She just squeezes his hand. Imagining that boat going back and forth, back and forth, day after day… always a straight line, never off course. Like the pacing of a caged animal.]
[She’s starting to notice that Armin smiles a lot. It’s nothing new, really; maybe it’s the scene, peaceful and quiet, that makes it stand out more. He doesn’t have to force it.
[But she gets it.]
[Aubrey nods, quiet again for a while. The ocean must’ve been a fairytale next to this, and then he saw it. And now…]
You know, when you talked about making life beautiful here… what would that look like to you? [Somehow she doubts it’s the flat backdrop.]
[Correct; having no idea where Eren and his fangirl went will bring Levi so much peace when he wakes up!]
Hah. I wouldn’t call it cheap… just cheesy. [As if they haven’t been utter saps within inches of their lives; just last talk, even. It’s hard to sound too teasing even now, watching Armin run his fingers through Eren’s hair.]
You think we’d all survive in an empty room together? [It’s fortunate that, with Eren and Reiner having apparently reconciled, Aubrey can say this and mean it as a joke.]
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[So it’s Armin’s turn to have Eren in his lap. Aubrey smiles, soft and happy; just look at them. They’re beautiful. And even though the world has an idea for them again, it’s nicer this time. Much nicer.]
Hah… I’m glad. [Just a small understatement.] You know, in a way that’s what I was trying to tell you, earlier… staying hopeful. Holding on.
[Again, words falter. But she thinks he understands.]
I know Eren needs you, too.
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Maybe I didn't have any left at all, but...
[He stares once again down at Eren, still lovingly stroking.]
None of that really matters now, I guess.
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[Hard to believe, Aubrey thinks; but it’s really not, when he looks to Eren like that. And he’s right; it doesn’t matter now anyway.
[Speaking of now… The last time Aubrey was barefoot in water, ocean waves lapped at her shins. Without them, she almost doesn’t notice they’re at a dock at all until she shifts, finally looking around.
[The boat catches her attention immediately. She’s staring at it quizzically, trying to follow the cables into the distance, as she asks,] Where… are we?
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[Then, with a glance around, a good-natured laugh.] Sort of...
It isn't quite complete, but this canal here looks like I remember. That's the ferry there for transporting cargo.
[And human lives once the wall fell.]
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[There was nothing like this by the tree… or in the titan-wracked town, for that matter. For a place enclosed by walls, Shiganshina is bigger than Aubrey thought.]
[…It had more people too, then.
[The smile fades somewhat, at that thought.]
Just… back and forth, huh? [It’s a shallow cover.] No wonder you wanted the ocean....
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There are lakes and things like that in the countryside, but before I became a Scout, I'd never been.
This was the closest thing we had to a real body of water.
[He looks at Aubrey, tilting his head to the side just so, as if considering something.]
You know...the more I think about it, it must have been the ocean that drew me to this place. I had this book...
It was illegal. It had information about the world outside of the walls.
Nothing about Marley, or anything like that. Just...bodies of water, filled with salt, that stretch out so far in every direction that you can't see the other side. Fiery water that flows between rocks and bursts out of mountains. Green lights in the sky that look like magic...
[Briefly, he bends forward to kiss Eren on his temple.]
Eren took me to all of those places. When we were talking just before he died. That reality he made...for me.
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[When Armin looks at her, Aubrey swings focus back. As he talks, she finds herself a bit lost, watching him; the strength of his own nostalgia, maybe. The story itself. His face. Echoes of awe…
[She sees that in him, still. He kisses Eren, and it means everything.]
[A cabin for Mikasa; forbidden wonders for Armin. Worlds, just for them, in farewell.]
[She loves him; she loves him; she loves them.]
[After a quiet;] And it’s always the ocean you go back to, huh…
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Seeing it for the first time...it was all I could do not to cry. I used to dream about what it might look like, feel like, smell like...
There was so much salt that it stung my eyes just standing too close. It felt...profound.
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[It… explains a lot, somehow.
[It’s the only one Aubrey’s seen, too. Always a special day out…]
Was it all that you imagined?
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[He has to clear his throat, but it doesn't quite work. His eyes are stinging with salt.]
Crossing that ocean...it led to so much turmoil...
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[The memory—
[It’s beautiful; it’s jarring; it’s hope— No. Traces of it, maybe. But there was more, and that’s why Armin can’t speak of it as fondly, and Eren has truly always, always, always been on this path, hasn’t he?
[Well. He was. And the ocean ran red for it.
[But Armin can’t hate it.]
[The emotion in his voice tugs at Aubrey; she reaches for his hand.]
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I'm sorry. I didn't think I'd get emotional like this.
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[She squeezes back. But the smile is less certain.] It’s alright....
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Seems like Eren and I remember that day a little differently.
I'm sad for that.
He always wanted it too.
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[She wasn’t sure, really; but that’s confirmation enough. Actually, she didn’t realize it wasn’t quite Armin’s....]
More than either of you ever dreamed, I guess.
[His father’s memories… Aubrey clamps that thought before Armin sees something he shouldn’t.]
It’s a lot.
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It's easy to talk freely about it now - Paradis, Marley. An island, a continent. But we didn't even know what the word "island" meant for most of our lives. All we knew was what was inside the walls. We might have thought the world outside was worth exploring, but as far as we knew, all of humanity lived inside of those walls...
[He shakes his head, brow pinching together in a pained expression.]
The population of Paradis made up only 20% of the world's population, and we thought that was all there was.
We were so ignorant back then...
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[More to Paradis; so much less than a world.]
[She just squeezes his hand. Imagining that boat going back and forth, back and forth, day after day… always a straight line, never off course. Like the pacing of a caged animal.]
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The Scout Regiment, you know...our entire purpose was to venture outside the walls, see what there was to see.
Eren really idolized them when we were kids. They'd come back with less numbers every time, but it never stopped them...
[There's a weighted pause.]
You know...in the end...that was really all for nothing, wasn't it?
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Nothing…?
[But you saw the ocean. Naive, isn’t it?]
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You're right. That matters. [He really means it.
[Stories, laughter, dreams; just because it's over doesn't mean it didn't matter.]
Thank you, Aubrey.
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[She’s starting to notice that Armin smiles a lot. It’s nothing new, really; maybe it’s the scene, peaceful and quiet, that makes it stand out more. He doesn’t have to force it.
[But she gets it.]
[Aubrey nods, quiet again for a while. The ocean must’ve been a fairytale next to this, and then he saw it. And now…]
You know, when you talked about making life beautiful here… what would that look like to you? [Somehow she doubts it’s the flat backdrop.]
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The beauty is really in the people you're with, don't you think?
Maybe that's a cheap answer. [His fingers comb through Eren's loose hair.]
All of those things I mentioned - the fiery water, lights in the sky, the sea - I want to see them all again, sure, but...
If it was just you and Eren and I - Mikasa and Reiner too - sitting in an empty room? I'd find that beautiful too.
[Don't mind him Not Thinking About Bertholdt and allowing Levi the peace that comes with being nowhere near them.]
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[Correct; having no idea where Eren and his fangirl went will bring Levi so much peace when he wakes up!]
Hah. I wouldn’t call it cheap… just cheesy. [As if they haven’t been utter saps within inches of their lives; just last talk, even. It’s hard to sound too teasing even now, watching Armin run his fingers through Eren’s hair.]
You think we’d all survive in an empty room together? [It’s fortunate that, with Eren and Reiner having apparently reconciled, Aubrey can say this and mean it as a joke.]
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here lies flyleaf 1/2
2/2 she’s awake!
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this icon is so mild wtf (1/1)
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1/1 armin is just listening
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2/3 jk
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1/4 ICON ICON GOT TO USE THE ICON THE ICON THE--
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3/4 eren decreeth the polycule THUSLY
4/4 ARMIN BLAST
1/2 THE ICONNNN we a little split but tis the spirit
2/2 aubreremin REAL
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