[It’s Armin’s shout that wrests Aubrey from her predictable little fugue. She’s been mostly out of earshot, but that’s a cue to at least venture back, to make sure they’re okay…]
[They take their time. Eren and Armin stay locked in their embrace until Armin starts to calm, and the sharp, painful tension in Eren's heart starts to release, as if it's just now allowed to beat again.
[Eren senses Aubrey before he can see her. It always seems to happen that way. Any time the world spits them back out, he appears and hones in on her instantly; an innate sense, just as important as sight or sound.
[He lets go of Armin a little too quickly, but not without giving the back of his head one more strong grip. Armin relents, wiping at his eyes and nodding, muttering something that can't be heard - a soft "thank you", or something like that, Eren is sure.
[She’s no voyeur; the shuffled sounds of a concluding embrace—deafening, almost echoing, here—bring Aubrey’s attention back.]
[Uncertain, she steps back into view. Just a quick glance tells her Eren’s attention is all hers; it feels fundamentally wrong, that he’s just had a moment with Armin and is breaking it so sharply. Aubrey knows she’d be stung, at least, in Armin’s place.]
[She looks away from them both, arms lightly folded. There’s no point asking how they’re doing, is there?]
[There wouldn't be much point, no. Neither would have a good answer. Eren's pride is rearing its ugly head again; although, he never would have been embarrassed at showing Armin affection in the past. Just another facet of not being able to live with himself and what he's done, maybe. He doesn't deserve his friend's affection.]
[Even Armin is a little embarrassed, but maybe that's due to the sensation that he shouldn't be forgiving Eren so easily. Maybe he doesn't deserve his friend's affection. But how could Armin help it, really? He has forgiven him. He always will, somehow...]
[Maybe it’s less about whether any of them deserve anything; they’re getting it anyway, for better and (much, much) worse. For now, at least, they have each other. And the camera shifts, ever-uncomfortably, back to Aubrey.]
Just, ah… needed a moment. [Not really answering either of them. Still not looking, either.] I’ll keep back, if either of you need [want] more time…
[He surprises himself with that response; it's promising in and of itself, but is it a promise he can keep? Whether due to this universe or to himself, he's not so sure.]
[Of course they’ll talk later. The world wouldn’t— well, when it’s not enforcing an internal censor, it won’t let them not talk. And that vague, dry bemusement becomes just a bit more focused when Eren talks like Aubrey can’t be alone for five minutes....]
[Whether by timing or will of the universe, Armin pipes up next, and the annoyance is stifled before it can really form.]
This world shouldn’t be dangerous. [In lieu of an answer. Who’s she insisting the “should” to, anyway?] Or at least, it’s— [A wary glance upward. There are no screens in sight, but stores like this always have security cameras somewhere.... And who knows if this ceiling will throw up an error, too.]
I guess it just is, most of the time. [Maybe there’s a pattern…?] It draws from our memories a lot. But not all the time....
[It's almost as if Eren can sense Aubrey's budding irritation, but maybe that's just an expectation, since he realizes he's doing something that will annoy her (which is fine - does it all the time). Still, perceived irritation from Aubrey brings about a more obvious irritation from Eren, and basically--]
[They're like an old married couple or something. When they're not pissing each other off, it's because they're busy staring into each other's eyes. Has Armin ever seen Eren like this with someone else?]
You said that, yeah. It could be pulling from our subconsciouses as well. We shouldn't rule that out...
Still, I don't think we're the only ones to blame.
[Armin certainly isn't. This is...definitely more a Them(TM) issue than anything else, or so it seems.]
There's no telling who might be pulling the strings. All we can do for now is try to pay attention - see what information we can gather through our experiences.
[From casual to not; from irritated to not. Different setting, same world, same them. In some way, at least.]
[At least Armin’s cool-headed as ever, even though it’s slightly troubling that Aubrey didn’t exactly remember saying that before. Or, they were definitely talking about memories, that’s how this started… ugh.]
Right. Actually, I’m glad this place has been better to you, Armin… [No sarcasm. It’s an idle curiosity, actually.] Have you met anyone here besides us? [With a glance to Eren, because they might be on the same page here:] I haven’t.
No, I haven't. In fact, I haven't...really done much of anything since the last time I saw you. It seems you two are living more experiences than me in general.
[Not a surprising interjection. Aubrey acknowledges that with a quick nod, but returning to Armin:] Well, kind of. It’s like that with us, too—but last time, Eren was thinking we could control it better. The world, that is. [Glancing to Eren for confirmation,] “Bending” it?
Edited (misread a tag, and somehow made 500 typos) 2023-10-09 22:40 (UTC)
[Weird time to give him a compliment, but Eren's tone doesn't exactly sound complimentary, so...Maybe Armin should take it as irritation instead. Like he's ever the one who gets to be naturally good at something anyway.]
I'll take that as a compliment. [So there.]
I might as well practice. If that's true, then...well, the implications are immeasurable. Having the ability to manipulate something at that scale - you'd basically be a--
[And we are just gonna go ahead and stop that train of thought right there. Eren's enough of a God already; the implications are terrifying is what they are. Eren might get so angry that he simply undoes reality. Oy vey...]
Well, it's a useful skill if it really does work. That's all.
[It’s weirdly nice to hear Eren and Armin’s little back-and-forth, again, especially since the stakes are a lot lower. Just three friends (well. for lack of a better term) having a normal, casual conversation about bending the world to their will.]
Oh, believe me, it works. [Aubrey tries to make that sound casual. It’s not like it’s gone terribly haywire about half the time.] Like— Actually, Armin, why don’t you try? [She’d offer to demonstrate, or even ask Eren to, but. Well. Hopefully Eren doesn’t mind the focus shift.] Somewhere nice you’d like to go, or an item you’d like to have…
[There's a strange anxiety to handing Armin the reigns - in some ways, anyway, if only because Eren isn't sure what he'll do with them. Ending up back in fake-Shiganshina right now wouldn't be something that, Eren hopes, either of them would want. In other ways, though, handing Armin the reigns only makes sense; it's what they've always done when something has defied explanation.
[Still...he can't help but wonder what might happen even if Armin chooses the most innocuous option he can...]
[Somewhere nice he'd like to go...? Home, maybe - but that definitely isn't an option with Eren here, after everything they just saw. If their subconscious has influence on this world, that would no doubt lead to disaster; that, or a memory in four dimensions. No thank you.
[Something he'd like to have? He can only think of his grandfather's book. Would that be just as dangerous as a trip home? Would either even be possible?
[He has to think simpler. Emotion shouldn't play into a trial run like this (unless...emotion is the key?).
[Maybe just...
[He holds both palms up, cupped like a bowl. He recalls the feeling of warm ocean water on his hands, filling them up. Even given everything, the ocean has never stopped being a source of wonder, and...oddly, somehow, comfort for Armin.
[An ocean of salty water so big that it never runs out. He closes his eyes. His hand doesn't quite fill, but...
[Drip, drip, drip...
[He opens his eyes, points them at the ceiling; there, a little gray raincloud, sending tiny droplets into his hands, onto his face, his shoulders. It hasn't gotten larger yet. It's not raining on Aubrey or Eren.
[Armin looks amazed.]
It's not...Wow, it's--
It's not quite what I was going for, but I...I did that?
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[It’s Armin’s shout that wrests Aubrey from her predictable little fugue. She’s been mostly out of earshot, but that’s a cue to at least venture back, to make sure they’re okay…]
[They’re embracing. Armin’s sobbing. Eren’s holding him; they’re holding each other.]
[She backs away, silent. Her heart tells her they really need this.]
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[But it can't last forever.]
2/3 jk
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[He lets go of Armin a little too quickly, but not without giving the back of his head one more strong grip. Armin relents, wiping at his eyes and nodding, muttering something that can't be heard - a soft "thank you", or something like that, Eren is sure.
[He searches for his Detriment.]
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[She’s no voyeur; the shuffled sounds of a concluding embrace—deafening, almost echoing, here—bring Aubrey’s attention back.]
[Uncertain, she steps back into view. Just a quick glance tells her Eren’s attention is all hers; it feels fundamentally wrong, that he’s just had a moment with Armin and is breaking it so sharply. Aubrey knows she’d be stung, at least, in Armin’s place.]
[She looks away from them both, arms lightly folded. There’s no point asking how they’re doing, is there?]
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Where did you go?
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Are you alright, Aubrey?
[What Eren should be asking.]
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[Maybe it’s less about whether any of them deserve anything; they’re getting it anyway, for better and (much, much) worse. For now, at least, they have each other. And the camera shifts, ever-uncomfortably, back to Aubrey.]
Just, ah… needed a moment. [Not really answering either of them. Still not looking, either.] I’ll keep back, if either of you need [want] more time…
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We can hear what you're saying now.
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He's right.
Is...it over?
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[That’s… not a no… from either of them....]
For now, I guess. [Did it ever really start? Not from Aubrey’s perspective.] But— really, I don’t want to intrude.
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It's fine. We'll talk later.
[He surprises himself with that response; it's promising in and of itself, but is it a promise he can keep? Whether due to this universe or to himself, he's not so sure.]
It isn't safe to run around alone like that.
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[His friend's next words are...adequately concerning, though.]
I never thought of this world as dangerous before. I guess that was foolish of me.
You two have been through a lot, haven't you?
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[Of course they’ll talk later. The world wouldn’t— well, when it’s not enforcing an internal censor, it won’t let them not talk. And that vague, dry bemusement becomes just a bit more focused when Eren talks like Aubrey can’t be alone for five minutes....]
[Whether by timing or will of the universe, Armin pipes up next, and the annoyance is stifled before it can really form.]
This world shouldn’t be dangerous. [In lieu of an answer. Who’s she insisting the “should” to, anyway?] Or at least, it’s— [A wary glance upward. There are no screens in sight, but stores like this always have security cameras somewhere.... And who knows if this ceiling will throw up an error, too.]
I guess it just is, most of the time. [Maybe there’s a pattern…?] It draws from our memories a lot. But not all the time....
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You said that, yeah. It could be pulling from our subconsciouses as well. We shouldn't rule that out...
Still, I don't think we're the only ones to blame.
[Armin certainly isn't. This is...definitely more a Them(TM) issue than anything else, or so it seems.]
There's no telling who might be pulling the strings. All we can do for now is try to pay attention - see what information we can gather through our experiences.
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[From casual to not; from irritated to not. Different setting, same world, same them. In some way, at least.]
[At least Armin’s cool-headed as ever, even though it’s slightly troubling that Aubrey didn’t exactly remember saying that before. Or, they were definitely talking about memories, that’s how this started… ugh.]
Right. Actually, I’m glad this place has been better to you, Armin… [No sarcasm. It’s an idle curiosity, actually.] Have you met anyone here besides us? [With a glance to Eren, because they might be on the same page here:] I haven’t.
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[Girl, who asked?]
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No, I haven't. In fact, I haven't...really done much of anything since the last time I saw you. It seems you two are living more experiences than me in general.
Strange...
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[Not a surprising interjection. Aubrey acknowledges that with a quick nod, but returning to Armin:] Well, kind of. It’s like that with us, too—but last time, Eren was thinking we could control it better. The world, that is. [Glancing to Eren for confirmation,] “Bending” it?
1/2
For lack of a better term.
Like I said before, we can manipulate reality with enough effort. Bet you'd get the hang of that fast.
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I'll take that as a compliment. [So there.]
I might as well practice. If that's true, then...well, the implications are immeasurable. Having the ability to manipulate something at that scale - you'd basically be a--
[And we are just gonna go ahead and stop that train of thought right there. Eren's enough of a God already; the implications are terrifying is what they are. Eren might get so angry that he simply undoes reality. Oy vey...]
Well, it's a useful skill if it really does work. That's all.
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[It’s weirdly nice to hear Eren and Armin’s little back-and-forth, again, especially since the stakes are a lot lower. Just three friends (well. for lack of a better term) having a normal, casual conversation about bending the world to their will.]
Oh, believe me, it works. [Aubrey tries to make that sound casual. It’s not like it’s gone terribly haywire about half the time.] Like— Actually, Armin, why don’t you try? [She’d offer to demonstrate, or even ask Eren to, but. Well. Hopefully Eren doesn’t mind the focus shift.] Somewhere nice you’d like to go, or an item you’d like to have…
1/2
[Still...he can't help but wonder what might happen even if Armin chooses the most innocuous option he can...]
2/3 jk
[Something he'd like to have? He can only think of his grandfather's book. Would that be just as dangerous as a trip home? Would either even be possible?
[He has to think simpler. Emotion shouldn't play into a trial run like this (unless...emotion is the key?).
[Maybe just...
[He holds both palms up, cupped like a bowl. He recalls the feeling of warm ocean water on his hands, filling them up. Even given everything, the ocean has never stopped being a source of wonder, and...oddly, somehow, comfort for Armin.
[An ocean of salty water so big that it never runs out. He closes his eyes. His hand doesn't quite fill, but...
[Drip, drip, drip...
[He opens his eyes, points them at the ceiling; there, a little gray raincloud, sending tiny droplets into his hands, onto his face, his shoulders. It hasn't gotten larger yet. It's not raining on Aubrey or Eren.
[Armin looks amazed.]
It's not...Wow, it's--
It's not quite what I was going for, but I...I did that?
3/3
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2/3 jk again sorry
3/3
no apologies I love it
1/3
2/3 dumb boy content coming in 3, 2, 1...
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