[Images: him, sitting back, staring at his hand. Smiling, faint but determined. Eren, staring at her, wounded by dispassionate words. Eren, caged, human—]
[Abruptly Aubrey jerks her hand back and storms away from the screen. It was only a couple seconds, if even that, but more than enough for her to recognize the scene; it cuts off again, more abrupt, as she tries to pull Armin away.] Let’s talk somewhere else.
[Eren! Armin's breath stills in his lungs. Eren! Eren, but he's smiling - and then he's...hurt? And then he's--]
H-hold on! Wait a minute!
[The screen has flickered off. He's being pulled away.
[Eren! He looked so...so much like he used to. Armin is desperate to see the rest of the memory, but the screens are black, and he's stumbling after Aubrey, and--
[Eren...He looks better than alive. He looks...he looks like he's starting to come back to life.]
Aubrey, please - please stop!
[Armin stops dead in his tracks, planting his feet so Aubrey can't keep dragging him. They're already away from the screens, but...maybe he can still see them.]
What was that? Why did he--
Eren's what? You stopped yourself. Please tell me.
[Jesus, why did Aubrey talk to Eren like that? For better and/or worse, Armin’s not giving her a chance to mull it over. She’s not going to make a u-turn, but fine, she can stop being a child for five seconds; it’d hurt if she was teased with a glimpse of her old friends, too....]
[Her pace has already slowed before Armin makes the stop final. They haven’t gotten far; he’d just have to look over his shoulder to see the screens, though they remain black as ever. Aubrey can see them past him, in fact—and more, smaller reflections, all over the damn shelves on either side.]
God. Of course this world would— First the questions, now the… [Aubrey’s grumbling to herself; she raises both hands to rub her face, but Armin’s there, so a one-handed gesture will do. When she faces him again it’s with clear reluctance, but… better her than the screens.]
[“If we steel ourselves, we can win.”]
Eren’s… fine, I think. Or, as fine as anyone can be, here. [It is so, so strange to talk about him with someone else again. The reluctance is almost more sheepish than hurt.] He’s changed, almost—or, I’m seeing a lot more than last time we talked.
["He's changed, almost." Armin's eyes go wide with hope, undeniable. He can't begin to hide it. Aubrey says it like it's a positive thing; Aubrey is a nice person. Aubrey hates Eren's plans just as much as Armin does. This is good. This is really good.]
Please, tell me more. You have no idea how worried I've been - I mean, you might have some idea, but it's really-- To hear he's doing alright, or better, even-- I can't tell you what that means to me, I--
[Every reflective surface surrounding them lights up; a hundred Eren Jaegers, looking directly at them.]
"Aubrey. If you see him again, give him a message from me this time."
[The screens all shut off. The hope in Armin's eyes only grows. He directs it toward Aubrey.]
[She should have stayed facing away from Armin. God, she almost wants him to shut up, but Armin is so goddamn nice the anger-projection crumbles at the source.]
[And before Aubrey can so much as sputter his name, Eren. Eren, everywhere, just about— That free hand is staying over her mouth just a bit longer.
[You know what? Fuck department stores, actually. Fuck this store and every reflective surface in the entire world; she’d almost prefer the wall.]
Armin, I am so sorry—
[The hand curls into a fist, clenched tight by her neck. She can at least look at the guy when she breaks his heart. Rip off the bandaid, leave no room for doubt—]
“Tell Armin to stay away from me.”
[As Aubrey talks, the wall-screens directly behind Armin flash on, all creating one widescreen picture of Eren’s stormy gaze, locked on the viewer—which, from where Aubrey stands now, almost looks like Armin himself. Eren’s low voice booms from an unseen loudspeaker; there’s no escaping it.]
[Then, just as suddenly as the world came to life, it ends.]
[He has to look away from Aubrey. God. He's humiliated. Wouldn't anyone be? For as much as he loves Eren, and for as much as he shows that, for all he's said to Aubrey, for his own message...
[He twists his lips to the side a bit, hoping it will keep his sinuses from starting to burn again. He's so tired of crying over Eren Jaeger.
[Every inch of him burns with pain.
[Eren is improving. He smiled. He looked almost like his old self.
[And he still wants Armin to stay away from him. His heart breaks in real time, and it's obvious. The hopeful light in his eyes has gone...dull.]
Sorry, Eren...
[His voice sounds more weak than cold, but...unlike Armin all the same.]
[The screens stay blank. Dead, crushing silence. The only reflection Aubrey sees is Armin, the hope in his averted eyes withering away into a faint shadow.]
[Her heart aches for him, too.]
[The stillness weighs hollow.]
[The clenched fist loosens. The hand closest to Armin, locked to Armin, reaches out, fingers brushing his; an offer, nothing pushed. He might want this moment to himself. But…]
Do you… want to talk? [It’s a very quiet question.] About it?
[For a moment, Armin is quiet. He keeps his eyes off of Aubrey; he clenches his fists at his sides.]
You know...
[A deep breath. He lets it out in an incredulous laugh.]
Yeah. Maybe I do.
[Maybe that's his right after all Eren has done. It wouldn't exactly be disloyal to tell the truth. He looks at Aubrey.]
After all Eren's put us through these past couple of years, I'd say it's my right to have a word with him. The last time I saw him, he beat me so badly I could barely stand. He said unforgivable things, and I forgave him anyway. I forgave him before he even started.
Do you want to know what I think?
["Don't say it, Armin. You'll regret it if you do." He glares at the ground. He feels his eyes starting to burn. Goddammit, Eren. Why is he doing this?
[Armin's voice is soft with anger.]
I think Eren Jaeger is a coward. [He hates the words that come out of his own mouth.] He wasn't. Not always. But he's sure as hell acting that way now.
There's no reason to run from us. Just because we won't help him destroy the world? That's the thing, Aubrey.
Eren knows that if I had ten minutes alone with him, he'd come to his senses. And he's terrified of that. Because then he'll have to face what he's done.
That's what I think.
[He releases the tension in his fists. He closes his eyes. He breathes. And then his eyes are open, blue, and steady.]
You can tell Eren that I'll stop at nothing to see him again. He'll have to kill me if he wants me off his back. Personally, I don't think he's prepared for that.
[The mixed thoughts, that is. The feelings. Being furious with Eren, but unable to not pry for the better still left in him. Being unable not to chase him, to the ends of the earth and then some.
[Because Eren Jaeger is a coward. It’s a very human thing. And it’s impossible not to care.]
[For the most part, Armin’s words, his anger and his grief, command the room. It’s enough, all the more impassioned in its quiet, to fill the space and then some. But there was just a moment, as he described being beat: the screen behind him flickered to life again, a violent shadow in a window. Aubrey’s attention only strayed for a moment; it was all she needed to know.]
[Then: “He wasn’t. Not always.”
[A boy.
[And then he’s gone.]
[Armin makes his final promise; a threat, a gloat, a declaration of love. Ever-admirable, ever-steady.]
Armin…
[And then the wall comes to life again, stealing Aubrey’s focus once more. It’s not her memory.]
[On the screen, they're nine years old. There's a commotion - young voices, shouting.]
Leave him alone!
[Eren Jaeger, knee high to a cricket, rushes a group of older boys, growling as he pounds his tiny, weak fists into whatever he can reach. The older boys cackle and sneer, picking him up by his collar and tossing him carelessly to the side. Armin cowers with his hands covering his head, sniffling back tears.
[Eren can't be kept down for long. He launches himself up from the ground and continues the pathetic onslaught. The bullies pick him off every time, even as he screams and rages. Armin is covered in bruises.]
You piece of shit - I'LL KILL YOU!
[His voice is too young to sound the way it sounds, but he's got fresh tears in his eyes as well. They're all on behalf of his friend. One of the older boys slams his fist into Eren's face, sending him backwards, dazed, into a wall. He cracks his head on the brick and slumps to the ground, a small whimper escaping him.]
"It's useless, Jaeger. You're too weak. Too bad Mikasa's not here to pick your fights for you."
[Eren pushes himself up. It's shaky. His nose is bleeding. With a sudden growl, he's on his feet again, running toward the group of boys.
[Armin jumps up. He runs between Eren and the boys.]
"Eren! Stop! You can't! They'll kill y--"
[Eren doesn't see him in time. His fist collides with Armin's face, knocking him onto the ground. Eren's face drops into horrified shock. It's about then that Mikasa shows up; the group of boys flee instantly.]
Armin!
[Eren slides down onto his knees, taking the boy's face in his hands. Fat tears roll down Armin's cheeks as he begins to sob again. Eren's looks like he's about to start crying himself.]
No! I'm-- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to! Armin...Armin...
[He throws his arms around his best friend's neck, clutching his head protectively.]
I-I really didn't mean to. W-we'll get you all cleaned up, okay? I was just trying to help. I wouldn't hurt you on purpose - not in a million years!
[Armin hiccups, wiping at his swollen eyes.]
"I-I-I...I kn-know you...d-didn't mean to, you...you were just trying...t-to save me."
[The screen goes black. In its reflection, Eren Jaeger, behind them, both hands chained to one of the displays.
[He stares, eyes wide with shock - at the screen, at Aubrey--]
[Your boyfriend might be gay if he forgets you exist when his estranged husband is in the room. Kidding. When Aubrey swings into him, he tries to move his arm to catch her, even though his hands are chained. He does not, however, look at her.
[It's at this point that Armin lowers his arms, tossing Aubrey an apologetic, but very brief look. Then it's back to Eren. Eren speaks first.]
You need to leave.
[Eren tries to sound firm, but really he just sounds stiff, uncomfortable. It's hard to see Armin like this - especially after that memory. Armin wasn't wrong when he said that Eren was afraid of his influence. Armin can talk his way out of anything; he can talk most other people out of anything too...]
It’s fine. [Really. Uncomfortable situation for everyone. Aubrey steps back to the extent that she can. She did notice the attempted catch, though; Eren gets an uneasy, but appreciative, nod for that.]
[Eren's eyes shift to Aubrey. He's annoyed by the longing he feels when he looks at her. In front of Armin? Come on.
[This goddamned world. He's far too distracted to bend his way out of these chains; even if he could, where would he go? He's positive to exits are sealed.
[He was hoping to never have to face Armin again, but here they are, and his best friend is just as much a light in the dark as he's always been. Eren's heart aches painfully for him. He didn't appreciate it enough when Armin's hands were gripping his head; when his head was nearly on Eren's chest.
[He's missed him. He's missed him painfully. And he's already starting to slip, just being in the same room with him.]
[Eren is barely emoting, but Armin can see it anyway; the way he looks at Aubrey, and the way he looks at him. He wants to hold him again, but he and Aubrey are still attached.]
Eren...
[Eren turns his face stubbornly away. Armin sighs.]
Look, we...we don't have to talk about this now. We can wait until we're alone. Aubrey and I will find a way out of these cuffs, and then--
[He falls quiet for a moment.]
Eren, I'm...I'm so glad to see you. You must know that.
[Part of him - a large part of him - thought he'd never see Eren alive again...
[The screen flickers on. Eren and Armin's heads both turn. A memory within a memory begins to play. The liminal Wal-Mart demands they all watch.
[The audio, by the way, surrounds them in a way that no speaker could ever simulate. They may as well really be there inside the screens.]
[Aubrey turns with the two. She’s barely processed the first memory, and then—]
[Eaten alive. Bleeding out. Children, Armin and Eren, excited over the sea—the ocean! something so seemingly simple!—just yearning for adventure beyond the walls… a final reach, and a broken, desperate, soul-piercing scream.]
[How young were they?]
[Aubrey is shaking by the end of it; raw adrenaline, heart thudding second by horrid second. She’s bewildered, almost dazed; only briefly, during the talk of the ocean, could she tear her eyes away, to Eren and Armin and Eren again (always back to Eren)—and no sooner does the memory end does she do so again.]
Y…
You…
[She doesn’t know who she’s talking to. It’s all she can get out.]
[The memory plays, a memory within a memory. Eren and Armin watch, eyes fixated on the screen. Neither notice Aubrey's horror as the scene plays out. Once it ends, Eren is there, still chained, his expression blank, his eyes empty. Just another day at work. He's experienced horrors worse than this early incident a thousand times. From his perspective, Armin was saved, and he was always going to survive; he was certain of it.
[But then, as he recalls the rest of the memory, what wasn't shown on screen. He remembers what it felt like to be inside the titan's stomach. There were other people in there too - alive, begging for their lives, drowning in boiling hot stomach acid.
[Eren's eyes grow ever duller as the memory loops and replays behind his eyes.
[Aubrey looks at him. He looks back. She's horrified. She should be.]
[Armin cringes at Eren's words, squeezing his eyes shut tight. Tears leak out of them.
[From his perspective, Eren died. Eren died. Eren died. He remembers telling Mikasa and the others. He remembers reciting the names of their fallen comrades. He remembers reciting Eren's name.
[But to hear his own scream...
[His hands are trembling.]
Don't you get it...?
[His voice is a whisper.]
I don't want you...to die...
["Pull yourself together, Armin. Aubrey's still here..." He can't make himself sound entirely present when he addresses her, struggling to drag his eyes away from the floor.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[Yep. Here they go.]
Eren’s alive. He’s—
[Images: him, sitting back, staring at his hand. Smiling, faint but determined. Eren, staring at her, wounded by dispassionate words. Eren, caged, human—]
[Abruptly Aubrey jerks her hand back and storms away from the screen. It was only a couple seconds, if even that, but more than enough for her to recognize the scene; it cuts off again, more abrupt, as she tries to pull Armin away.] Let’s talk somewhere else.
no subject
H-hold on! Wait a minute!
[The screen has flickered off. He's being pulled away.
[Eren! He looked so...so much like he used to. Armin is desperate to see the rest of the memory, but the screens are black, and he's stumbling after Aubrey, and--
[Eren...He looks better than alive. He looks...he looks like he's starting to come back to life.]
Aubrey, please - please stop!
[Armin stops dead in his tracks, planting his feet so Aubrey can't keep dragging him. They're already away from the screens, but...maybe he can still see them.]
What was that? Why did he--
Eren's what? You stopped yourself. Please tell me.
no subject
[Jesus, why did Aubrey talk to Eren like that? For better and/or worse, Armin’s not giving her a chance to mull it over. She’s not going to make a u-turn, but fine, she can stop being a child for five seconds; it’d hurt if she was teased with a glimpse of her old friends, too....]
[Her pace has already slowed before Armin makes the stop final. They haven’t gotten far; he’d just have to look over his shoulder to see the screens, though they remain black as ever. Aubrey can see them past him, in fact—and more, smaller reflections, all over the damn shelves on either side.]
God. Of course this world would— First the questions, now the… [Aubrey’s grumbling to herself; she raises both hands to rub her face, but Armin’s there, so a one-handed gesture will do. When she faces him again it’s with clear reluctance, but… better her than the screens.]
[“If we steel ourselves, we can win.”]
Eren’s… fine, I think. Or, as fine as anyone can be, here. [It is so, so strange to talk about him with someone else again. The reluctance is almost more sheepish than hurt.] He’s changed, almost—or, I’m seeing a lot more than last time we talked.
no subject
Please, tell me more. You have no idea how worried I've been - I mean, you might have some idea, but it's really-- To hear he's doing alright, or better, even-- I can't tell you what that means to me, I--
[Every reflective surface surrounding them lights up; a hundred Eren Jaegers, looking directly at them.]
"Aubrey. If you see him again, give him a message from me this time."
[The screens all shut off. The hope in Armin's eyes only grows. He directs it toward Aubrey.]
no subject
[She should have stayed facing away from Armin. God, she almost wants him to shut up, but Armin is so goddamn nice the anger-projection crumbles at the source.]
[And before Aubrey can so much as sputter his name, Eren. Eren, everywhere, just about— That free hand is staying over her mouth just a bit longer.
[You know what? Fuck department stores, actually. Fuck this store and every reflective surface in the entire world; she’d almost prefer the wall.]
Armin, I am so sorry—
[The hand curls into a fist, clenched tight by her neck. She can at least look at the guy when she breaks his heart. Rip off the bandaid, leave no room for doubt—]
“Tell Armin to stay away from me.”
[As Aubrey talks, the wall-screens directly behind Armin flash on, all creating one widescreen picture of Eren’s stormy gaze, locked on the viewer—which, from where Aubrey stands now, almost looks like Armin himself. Eren’s low voice booms from an unseen loudspeaker; there’s no escaping it.]
[Then, just as suddenly as the world came to life, it ends.]
1/3
2/3
3/3
[So very empty.
[He has to look away from Aubrey. God. He's humiliated. Wouldn't anyone be? For as much as he loves Eren, and for as much as he shows that, for all he's said to Aubrey, for his own message...
[He twists his lips to the side a bit, hoping it will keep his sinuses from starting to burn again. He's so tired of crying over Eren Jaeger.
[Every inch of him burns with pain.
[Eren is improving. He smiled. He looked almost like his old self.
[And he still wants Armin to stay away from him. His heart breaks in real time, and it's obvious. The hopeful light in his eyes has gone...dull.]
Sorry, Eren...
[His voice sounds more weak than cold, but...unlike Armin all the same.]
I won't do that.
no subject
[The screens stay blank. Dead, crushing silence. The only reflection Aubrey sees is Armin, the hope in his averted eyes withering away into a faint shadow.]
[Her heart aches for him, too.]
[The stillness weighs hollow.]
[The clenched fist loosens. The hand closest to Armin, locked to Armin, reaches out, fingers brushing his; an offer, nothing pushed. He might want this moment to himself. But…]
Do you… want to talk? [It’s a very quiet question.] About it?
pop OFF sis
You know...
[A deep breath. He lets it out in an incredulous laugh.]
Yeah. Maybe I do.
[Maybe that's his right after all Eren has done. It wouldn't exactly be disloyal to tell the truth. He looks at Aubrey.]
After all Eren's put us through these past couple of years, I'd say it's my right to have a word with him. The last time I saw him, he beat me so badly I could barely stand. He said unforgivable things, and I forgave him anyway. I forgave him before he even started.
Do you want to know what I think?
["Don't say it, Armin. You'll regret it if you do." He glares at the ground. He feels his eyes starting to burn. Goddammit, Eren. Why is he doing this?
[Armin's voice is soft with anger.]
I think Eren Jaeger is a coward. [He hates the words that come out of his own mouth.] He wasn't. Not always. But he's sure as hell acting that way now.
There's no reason to run from us. Just because we won't help him destroy the world? That's the thing, Aubrey.
Eren knows that if I had ten minutes alone with him, he'd come to his senses. And he's terrified of that. Because then he'll have to face what he's done.
That's what I think.
[He releases the tension in his fists. He closes his eyes. He breathes. And then his eyes are open, blue, and steady.]
You can tell Eren that I'll stop at nothing to see him again. He'll have to kill me if he wants me off his back. Personally, I don't think he's prepared for that.
no subject
[It makes sense.]
[The mixed thoughts, that is. The feelings. Being furious with Eren, but unable to not pry for the better still left in him. Being unable not to chase him, to the ends of the earth and then some.
[Because Eren Jaeger is a coward. It’s a very human thing. And it’s impossible not to care.]
[For the most part, Armin’s words, his anger and his grief, command the room. It’s enough, all the more impassioned in its quiet, to fill the space and then some. But there was just a moment, as he described being beat: the screen behind him flickered to life again, a violent shadow in a window. Aubrey’s attention only strayed for a moment; it was all she needed to know.]
[Then: “He wasn’t. Not always.”
[A boy.
[And then he’s gone.]
[Armin makes his final promise; a threat, a gloat, a declaration of love. Ever-admirable, ever-steady.]
Armin…
[And then the wall comes to life again, stealing Aubrey’s focus once more. It’s not her memory.]
[It’s not Armin’s, either.]
1/2 talk about a novel
Leave him alone!
[Eren Jaeger, knee high to a cricket, rushes a group of older boys, growling as he pounds his tiny, weak fists into whatever he can reach. The older boys cackle and sneer, picking him up by his collar and tossing him carelessly to the side. Armin cowers with his hands covering his head, sniffling back tears.
[Eren can't be kept down for long. He launches himself up from the ground and continues the pathetic onslaught. The bullies pick him off every time, even as he screams and rages. Armin is covered in bruises.]
You piece of shit - I'LL KILL YOU!
[His voice is too young to sound the way it sounds, but he's got fresh tears in his eyes as well. They're all on behalf of his friend. One of the older boys slams his fist into Eren's face, sending him backwards, dazed, into a wall. He cracks his head on the brick and slumps to the ground, a small whimper escaping him.]
"It's useless, Jaeger. You're too weak. Too bad Mikasa's not here to pick your fights for you."
[Eren pushes himself up. It's shaky. His nose is bleeding. With a sudden growl, he's on his feet again, running toward the group of boys.
[Armin jumps up. He runs between Eren and the boys.]
"Eren! Stop! You can't! They'll kill y--"
[Eren doesn't see him in time. His fist collides with Armin's face, knocking him onto the ground. Eren's face drops into horrified shock. It's about then that Mikasa shows up; the group of boys flee instantly.]
Armin!
[Eren slides down onto his knees, taking the boy's face in his hands. Fat tears roll down Armin's cheeks as he begins to sob again. Eren's looks like he's about to start crying himself.]
No! I'm-- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to! Armin...Armin...
[He throws his arms around his best friend's neck, clutching his head protectively.]
I-I really didn't mean to. W-we'll get you all cleaned up, okay? I was just trying to help. I wouldn't hurt you on purpose - not in a million years!
[Armin hiccups, wiping at his swollen eyes.]
"I-I-I...I kn-know you...d-didn't mean to, you...you were just trying...t-to save me."
[The screen goes black. In its reflection, Eren Jaeger, behind them, both hands chained to one of the displays.
[He stares, eyes wide with shock - at the screen, at Aubrey--]
2/2
no subject
[Bullying.
[Children.
[A punch.
[A savior.
[“I wouldn’t hurt you on purpose—not in a million years!”]
[The hero in the flesh—chained.]
Eren....
[Breathless.]
1/2
2/2
[He throws his arms around Eren's neck, clutching the back of his head, desperate.]
no subject
[Armin is strong; Aubrey gets swung. Her chained hand brushes Eren’s head, pulled into the reacharound.]
1/2
Your boyfriend might be gay if he forgets you exist when his estranged husband is in the room.Kidding. When Aubrey swings into him, he tries to move his arm to catch her, even though his hands are chained. He does not, however, look at her.[It's at this point that Armin lowers his arms, tossing Aubrey an apologetic, but very brief look. Then it's back to Eren. Eren speaks first.]
You need to leave.
[Eren tries to sound firm, but really he just sounds stiff, uncomfortable. It's hard to see Armin like this - especially after that memory. Armin wasn't wrong when he said that Eren was afraid of his influence. Armin can talk his way out of anything; he can talk most other people out of anything too...]
2/2
[He looks at Aubrey again, even more apologetic than his first glance.]
Sorry, Aubrey. I hope you're alright.
[Eren's glare deepens.]
no subject
It’s fine. [Really. Uncomfortable situation for everyone. Aubrey steps back to the extent that she can. She did notice the attempted catch, though; Eren gets an uneasy, but appreciative, nod for that.]
1/2
[This goddamned world. He's far too distracted to bend his way out of these chains; even if he could, where would he go? He's positive to exits are sealed.
[He was hoping to never have to face Armin again, but here they are, and his best friend is just as much a light in the dark as he's always been. Eren's heart aches painfully for him. He didn't appreciate it enough when Armin's hands were gripping his head; when his head was nearly on Eren's chest.
[He's missed him. He's missed him painfully. And he's already starting to slip, just being in the same room with him.]
2/2
Eren...
[Eren turns his face stubbornly away. Armin sighs.]
Look, we...we don't have to talk about this now. We can wait until we're alone. Aubrey and I will find a way out of these cuffs, and then--
[He falls quiet for a moment.]
Eren, I'm...I'm so glad to see you. You must know that.
[Part of him - a large part of him - thought he'd never see Eren alive again...
[The screen flickers on. Eren and Armin's heads both turn. A memory within a memory begins to play. The liminal Wal-Mart demands they all watch.
[The audio, by the way, surrounds them in a way that no speaker could ever simulate. They may as well really be there inside the screens.]
no subject
[Aubrey turns with the two. She’s barely processed the first memory, and then—]
[Eaten alive. Bleeding out. Children, Armin and Eren, excited over the sea—the ocean! something so seemingly simple!—just yearning for adventure beyond the walls… a final reach, and a broken, desperate, soul-piercing scream.]
[How young were they?]
[Aubrey is shaking by the end of it; raw adrenaline, heart thudding second by horrid second. She’s bewildered, almost dazed; only briefly, during the talk of the ocean, could she tear her eyes away, to Eren and Armin and Eren again (always back to Eren)—and no sooner does the memory end does she do so again.]
Y…
You…
[She doesn’t know who she’s talking to. It’s all she can get out.]
1/2
[But then, as he recalls the rest of the memory, what wasn't shown on screen. He remembers what it felt like to be inside the titan's stomach. There were other people in there too - alive, begging for their lives, drowning in boiling hot stomach acid.
[Eren's eyes grow ever duller as the memory loops and replays behind his eyes.
[Aubrey looks at him. He looks back. She's horrified. She should be.]
That is our reality.
2/2
[From his perspective, Eren died. Eren died. Eren died. He remembers telling Mikasa and the others. He remembers reciting the names of their fallen comrades. He remembers reciting Eren's name.
[But to hear his own scream...
[His hands are trembling.]
Don't you get it...?
[His voice is a whisper.]
I don't want you...to die...
["Pull yourself together, Armin. Aubrey's still here..." He can't make himself sound entirely present when he addresses her, struggling to drag his eyes away from the floor.]
Aubrey...I'm sorry you had to see that.
(no subject)
1/4
2/4
3/4
4/4
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
2/2
(no subject)
oh hello?? 1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/3
2/3
3/3 (messed up the order but Aubrey can next!)
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/?
2/?
3/?
4/?
5/?
6/?
7/?
8/? my god
9/?
10/?
11/?
12/13
13/13 HOOWEE
(no subject)
1/2
2/3 jk
3/3
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/3 jk
3/3
(no subject)
1/2
2/3 jk again sorry
3/3
no apologies I love it
1/3
2/3 dumb boy content coming in 3, 2, 1...
3/3
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...