[Strange how it doesn’t dawn on her to do the same. Try to resurrect Armin, maybe. But the world’s risky enough, never mind a person....]
It changes when we’re in control. Of ourselves. [Which, somehow, Aubrey doesn’t feel like she is. But she’s grasping for it; it’s how she’s explaining anything at all.]
[He feels the shame of a soldier. 'Be in control.' What Aubrey's saying doesn't make sense, though. He can't just make home out of nothing - certainly not out of this place.
[It would seem impossible, if only this were the sort of place where that word made sense. Bertholdt closes his eyes. He visualizes it. Liberio, with all of its coldness and hatred; with all of Bertholdt's friends and family. He knows this town like the back of his hand, even after all these years.
[He's wanted so badly to see it again. It's hard to do that with his eyes still closed, but, even so, the scenery surrounding he and Aubrey does begin to shift.
[Liberio is nothing like Shiganshina - nothing like anything Aubrey will have seen from "Eren's world". The streets are paved with uniform cobblestone, the buildings tall and lit with electricity, not torches. There are even cars (albeit old-fashioned) rattling up and down the street. Here in Bertholdt's neighborhood, there isn't anyone outside without an armband on. He's wearing one too. In fact, his entire outfit has changed.
[He opens his eyes. They're still perched upon a roof, but it--]
It...it can't be...
It's...?
[Home. Home! Bert lets out a breathless laugh, tears springing back into his eyes again. Another laugh follows, then another, until he's properly laughing. It's a joyous sound. Despite everything, his home is his home is his home. And he is finally, finally home...]
[First thing Aubrey notices is Armin-not-Armin fading with the initial rooftops. It tugs at her, but it at least confirms he’s not actually here. (She thinks. Hopes? That… may or may not be a good thing, when he was distressed last she heard of him. Hell knows what he and Eren will be like when she sees them next.... But worrying about that right now is more useless than anything.)]
[She does, at least, spare a glance around the new scenery. It’s… weirdly anachronistic, she thinks, compared to Eren and Armin’s memories. And what’s with the armband? Those dots will connect later, maybe—but for now, Bert’s commanding her focus, and he’s thrilled.]
[“Heartwarming” is a strong word, right now. She manages a small smile, though. It’s not wholly forced.]
Ah, be careful— [Not just because they’re still on a roof, but that’s part of it.] It’s still not the real thing…
[“So enjoy it while you can”? …Nah. Too callous. Let him have this.]
[The last thing Armin remembers is having a small episode in the Wal-Mart. Here and there, he'd have flashes of Bertholdt's memories in Shiganshina, but once it was all over, he was simply...back in the aisle with the wet floor, alone.
[Nothing more to do aside from clean up, so that's what he's doing when Aubrey arrives.]
Aubrey! [He's glad to see her and he looks it.]
I'm sorry, I...I don't know what happened. I didn't mean to freak out like that - where...did you go?
[Huh. Closing her eyes and thinking of the last time she saw them actually worked.]
[Aubrey looks a little disoriented, stepping back into view under those buzzing fluorescent lights. But when she sees Armin, up and okay (and mopping up, at that) she’s tempted to run at him with a hug.
[But, caution. Slippery floors.]
Armin! [A big smile will do, then. And, less intentionally, watery eyes, which she promptly blinks away.] No, I— I’m glad to see you. I’m glad you’re okay. There was just…
[Hm. Does she want to risk another panic, mentioning Bertholdt? But that ended well enough....] The world was being weird again. [It’s awkward, and an obvious dodge.] It’s fine.
[Aubrey's tears startle Armin a bit, but his first reaction is to hold an arm out for her in case she'd like a hug. It almost seems like she could use one...]
He wasn’t. [Not in any way that mattered. Her smile fades, at that.] I hope he’s—
[She cuts herself off. Bad to think of steaming stumps, right now. Armin’s offer is noted and watched (so he could use one, she thinks), but Aubrey hesitates just a big longer.] If I see him next, before you… do you want me to tell him anything?
[She doesn’t indulge it too long. She might actually start crying if she did. But Armin gets a good pat on the back, and Aubrey tries not to pull away too hastily.]
[Take care of each other… that’s all they can do, in the end, isn’t it?]
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Make it...?
[His voice is wary. Is she messing with him?]
What do you mean...?
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I already said. You can control it.
[Strange how it doesn’t dawn on her to do the same. Try to resurrect Armin, maybe. But the world’s risky enough, never mind a person....]
It changes when we’re in control. Of ourselves. [Which, somehow, Aubrey doesn’t feel like she is. But she’s grasping for it; it’s how she’s explaining anything at all.]
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[Can he...?]
How...do I do it? Tell me. Please...
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[How? Play pretend really, really hard.]
Visualize it. [Another small victory. He’s not crying; the stakes, maybe, are lowering.] Just focus.
[She couldn’t explain better if she had the full mind to.]
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[He's wanted so badly to see it again. It's hard to do that with his eyes still closed, but, even so, the scenery surrounding he and Aubrey does begin to shift.
[Liberio is nothing like Shiganshina - nothing like anything Aubrey will have seen from "Eren's world". The streets are paved with uniform cobblestone, the buildings tall and lit with electricity, not torches. There are even cars (albeit old-fashioned) rattling up and down the street. Here in Bertholdt's neighborhood, there isn't anyone outside without an armband on. He's wearing one too. In fact, his entire outfit has changed.
[He opens his eyes. They're still perched upon a roof, but it--]
It...it can't be...
It's...?
[Home. Home! Bert lets out a breathless laugh, tears springing back into his eyes again. Another laugh follows, then another, until he's properly laughing. It's a joyous sound. Despite everything, his home is his home is his home. And he is finally, finally home...]
I-I can't believe this! It's a miracle!
["Armin", for the record, has not followed them.]
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[And thus, the shift.]
[First thing Aubrey notices is Armin-not-Armin fading with the initial rooftops. It tugs at her, but it at least confirms he’s not actually here. (She thinks. Hopes? That… may or may not be a good thing, when he was distressed last she heard of him. Hell knows what he and Eren will be like when she sees them next.... But worrying about that right now is more useless than anything.)]
[She does, at least, spare a glance around the new scenery. It’s… weirdly anachronistic, she thinks, compared to Eren and Armin’s memories. And what’s with the armband? Those dots will connect later, maybe—but for now, Bert’s commanding her focus, and he’s thrilled.]
[“Heartwarming” is a strong word, right now. She manages a small smile, though. It’s not wholly forced.]
Ah, be careful— [Not just because they’re still on a roof, but that’s part of it.] It’s still not the real thing…
[“So enjoy it while you can”? …Nah. Too callous. Let him have this.]
But I’m glad it worked for you.
[There.]
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[Bertholdt's eyes aren't on Aubrey. He's too busy staring at Liberio with stars in his eyes.
[It had never been all that wonderful of a place when he was growing up, but now, it seems...awe-inspiring.]
Any time I want to go home, I just...?
[Ah. Freedom, then.]
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[Is it really this easy…? Somehow, Aubrey hasn’t considered it. (Maybe it’s the baggage.) But he’s got a point....]
I think… [Armin made it look easy… Maybe Bertholdt’s gifted, too.] …it can be.
[She’ll leave him to it, if the world allows.
[Now where did Eren and Armin go....]
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[Nothing more to do aside from clean up, so that's what he's doing when Aubrey arrives.]
Aubrey! [He's glad to see her and he looks it.]
I'm sorry, I...I don't know what happened. I didn't mean to freak out like that - where...did you go?
[Despite everything, he sounds calm.]
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[Huh. Closing her eyes and thinking of the last time she saw them actually worked.]
[Aubrey looks a little disoriented, stepping back into view under those buzzing fluorescent lights. But when she sees Armin, up and okay (and mopping up, at that) she’s tempted to run at him with a hug.
[But, caution. Slippery floors.]
Armin! [A big smile will do, then. And, less intentionally, watery eyes, which she promptly blinks away.] No, I— I’m glad to see you. I’m glad you’re okay. There was just…
[Hm. Does she want to risk another panic, mentioning Bertholdt? But that ended well enough....] The world was being weird again. [It’s awkward, and an obvious dodge.] It’s fine.
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I am okay. Really. And...you are too?
[Oh...]
Where's Eren? Was he with you?
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He wasn’t. [Not in any way that mattered. Her smile fades, at that.] I hope he’s—
[She cuts herself off. Bad to think of steaming stumps, right now. Armin’s offer is noted and watched (so he could use one, she thinks), but Aubrey hesitates just a big longer.] If I see him next, before you… do you want me to tell him anything?
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No, I...think I'll get to talk to him again soon.
Thanks, Aubrey.
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[May this terrible, beautiful world prove him right.]
A-all right.
[And then she gives him a hug. He’s warm, again. It’s nice....]
Stay safe out there.
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You too, Aubrey.
You and Eren...take care of each other. That's what you can do for me. Okay?
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[She doesn’t indulge it too long. She might actually start crying if she did. But Armin gets a good pat on the back, and Aubrey tries not to pull away too hastily.]
[Take care of each other… that’s all they can do, in the end, isn’t it?]
Okay.