[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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[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.