[Armin's brow pinches with concern as Aubrey doubles over. She's shaking. He won't touch her without permission, but his hand does hover nearby, as if he might have to steady her. Is she going to pass out?]
I did see her. [She must be someone important to Aubrey. Maybe...someone who isn't around anymore where Aubrey's from?]
I...don't think that was an illusion, no, although...it's a bit hard to say...
[There was a time when seeing, even hearing, the living specter of Mari might not have phased Aubrey this much. Jarring, sure, but not like this. She’s been here too long. She’s worried sick about Eren. She’s tired. She’s so goddamn tired....]
[Is Armin’s confirmation a blessing or a curse? Like every other fucking thing here, it’s both and neither, all in one.]
[The “waitress” doesn’t return right away, just as she said. (Turns out trying to make small talk with backstage shadows is a futile endeavor.) Steadily, Aubrey stops shaking, and wills herself to sit back up. Still visibly shaken, but she can delay a total meltdown as long as “Mari” is out of sight. Probably.]
Sorry. S-sorry. [There’s nothing there, but she wipes her eyes briefly.] Mari is… [A sister. A mother. A friend. Everything she wanted and could never, can never, have.]
…She meant a lot to me.
[Eren. She came here to talk about Eren. She stalls, a little, first.] Have you… seen anyone else here, since? Besides me and Eren.
[Mentioning Bertholdt outright could be too much, but…] …Even if they’ve passed on, in your world.
[Armin frowns, glancing down at his knuckles, which are tapping idly against the table. He shakes his head.]
No, I haven't. I mean, I thought at first that maybe Eren and I were...[His voice trails off. It's too terrible to think about. He sucks it up anyway.]
I thought maybe we were dead, but...I don't know if I really buy that anymore.
[There's a pause.]
The other day in that department store, when I had that breakdown...I thought for a second that I saw someone - the boy I was telling you about.
I wouldn't place my bets on that, though. It could have easily been one of Bertholdt's memories or something like that. I see them all the time.
[But why would he see him in one of his memories...?]
[It’s impossible to tell if anyone here died or not, isn’t it? Bertholdt’s the only one who’s been certain. Aubrey’s starting to think it doesn’t matter. (But then, Mari…)
[Focus. Armin was aware of Bertholdt, then. There’s no point keeping him in the dark.]
It might’ve been both your memories, actually. [Shame there’s no swirling coffee to stare at. Aubrey watches Armin’s tapping knuckles, instead.]
I don’t know how much you were there for, but… I ended up on a rooftop, with Bertholdt. [Her own hands pull at each other; a slow, absent motion. She misses Eren’s palms over hers, even if last time he seemed to want to break her.] You turned into an illusion, at some point. And Bertholdt knew—that you weren’t there, and that he had died.
[A pause. That’s a lot to take in; she won’t bring Reiner in yet. But…] He doesn’t blame you. For what happened.
[Armin looks up from where he'd been tapping his knuckles, expression perplexed and cautious. He listens patiently, knuckles hovering about an inch above the wooden table, frozen mid-knock. The implications of Bertholdt being here - and Aubrey's friend, if he's understanding right - are...immeasurable. Could this really be some version of Hell?
[Her last words make him suck in a sharp breath through his nose, eyes going slightly wide. He lays his palms down flat on the table, feeling a tickle at the nape of his neck; a tickle in his sinuses as well.]
[That response has Aubrey meeting Armin’s face again. Of course he’s tense. It puts her on alert, too; she won’t reach out just yet, but if he so much as starts to repeat himself… It’s almost impossible to be ready or anything here, but hell if Aubrey won’t try.]
He did. [She nods, slightly; solemn, affirmative. If only she’d paid more attention; there was more to what Bertholdt told Armin, wasn’t there?]
We were trying to wake you up… Well, “you.” I hadn’t realized the real you was gone, yet.
[A steady inhale. Bertholdt never told her to pass anything along, but she feels a bit like a messenger again.] Bertholdt… I think he blames himself, more than anything.
[At this, Armin's expression becomes tight, but not in the way that precedes anger, or anything like that; he's choking back emotion as best he can. He never had time to deal with feelings like this in the real world. There would be no way of knowing what Bertholdt thought of him there. He blames himself?]
Yeah...
[The knuckle-tapping slowly picks up again, and Armin nods, eyes on the table.]
I think...we can all relate to that in some way.
[His throat does go a little hoarse as he's talking; he chokes it back, clearing his throat.]
We were friends. Despite everything, we...were friends once.
[Ah, but. This isn't really about him. Bertholdt's not in the same building as them right now - at least, not to Armin's knowledge. But...someone else is.]
Do...you want to talk about it? Your friend...?
[She should be back any minute, but...here? Who knows?]
[Maybe that’s what this is—a special Hell for people floundering in their own guilt. Aubrey watches Armin closely as he talks, and much as it’s a relief that he stays present, it doesn’t make it any easier to see him hold back.
[Of course he wants to shift the topic. Uneasy as it makes Aubrey, she can do that much for him. She still doesn’t know if she wants “her friend” to come back or not.]
I-I mean… she passed away four years ago. [It’s Aubrey’s turn to stare at the table, visibly restrained. It’s easier to talk about Mari like a passing memory, not someone who might actually be here.] I was twelve. Of course she wouldn’t recognize— Why would she be here?
What’s the lesson? The world’s sweetest person—
[Muffled, from somewhere in the kitchen: “You’re being very rude!”
[Aubrey… has heard that voice, too, on occasion.]
[It’s funny, in a horrible sort of way. She looks back to Armin, not quite smiling; it’s more of a cringe, a secondhand embarrassment.] I thought I was over it. It’s not like she ever did me any wrong....
[There’s one possibility gnawing at Aubrey, and she doesn’t want to say it. She never did learn why Mari killed herself. Could this world really be that cruel…?]
[Goodness, the staff here are bizarre. Faceless, for one, and hardly conversational. But there’s no point nagging dead ends, and Mari might as well turn her attention back to the people waiting for her. She’ll make their food herself if she has to.]
[Pink girl isn’t facing her, but doesn’t seem too upset anymore. (She is, unbeknownst to Mari, staring very intently at her hands, and deliberately not moving.) Back to business, then.]
[With a smile to the young man, then:] Have you decided what you’d like to order?
[It's difficult to hear Aubrey talk about her late friend; after all, grief is Armin's oldest friend, second only to Eren. He wants to reach out - he starts to, in case she'd like a hand to hold for a moment - but he stops himself when he sees Mari approaching.
[This is a real person. He can't blow her off like he does the staff (he doesn't do that either, actually--). Part of him wonders if he should send her away, tell her that they don't want service right now, but...who is he to rob Aubrey of an opportunity to talk with an old friend...?
[He inclines his head toward her, keeping his voice very soft, very quiet.]
Aubrey...?
[If Mari overhears him, it could easily sound like he's asking her if she wants anything.]
[It may be quiet, but Mari’s brother is very soft indeed; she’s used to reading lips. Moreover, it’s silent enough in here to hear a pen drop. Which it does, when the realization clicks.
[The hair. The bow. The… reaction, somehow. Certainly not quite the Aubrey who Mari knows, but—
[She chokes back a sob, and Mari would recognize that anywhere.]
[Mari kneels down beside the table, and Aubrey just crumbles. She can’t quite bring herself to turn, but she doesn’t cover her face, either; it’s her, it’s her, it’s her. Mari’s talking to her in that soft, gentle voice she hasn’t heard in so long, and it makes her want to wail like a baby. If Armin wasn’t here, and if she had just a little less pride, she might as well.]
“You’ve gotten so big…!” [Aubrey can’t even be mad she’s being talked to like she is, well, still 12. Finally she turns her head, as Mari takes a strand of pink between her fingers; that scrap of dignity is on very, very thin ice.] “And you dyed your hair…! Told you pink would be cute on you.”
[Oh, hell with it. Aubrey throws herself at Mari in a hug, blubbering.] I missed you… so much....
[Mari hears this entirely the wrong way. Of course Aubrey misses her; seems lots of time has passed in this strange place, and she’s been stuck with that… whoever it was.
[It remains unvoiced for the moment, however. She sits back on the floor and lets Aubrey—older, it seems, but doubtlessly still Aubrey—fall into her, holding tight. Mari strokes her hair, brushing it with her fingers, and Aubrey cries harder. Poor girl....]
[Mari has many, many questions, but she’ll indulge this just a biiit longer. There’s no one around to see, anyway—except this person Aubrey’s with. And since Aubrey’s not exactly in talking shape, Mari addresses him directly, with an eternally grateful smile:]
[Aubrey leans back at that, albeit staying close. Part of her never wants to look away from Mari’s perfect, beautiful face again—but Mari is looking elsewhere, and Aubrey wipes her eyes and follows that gaze back up to Armin.]
O-oh, sorry… This is my friend Armin. Armin, Mari.
[She tears herself back as Mari offers Armin a handshake; Mari stands, while she’s at it, and when Aubrey helps her up, Aubrey keeps her hand held tight.]
[For once, things actually feel, truly and with no denial, like they could be okay.]
[When it comes to keeping Aubrey safe, Armin really has to give that to Eren; he's sure Aubrey would too. There comes the grim reminder, though; Eren isn't here.
[Polite as ever, Armin obliges, shaking Mari's hand with a sincere smile.]
It's wonderful to meet you, Mari.
[He'd say he's heard a lot about her, but he hasn't. Hell, he hasn't even heard all that much about Aubrey, but...]
You as well, Armin. [Mari has a small, pleasant smile around others as a default; as she takes Armin’s hand, it could not be more genuine. Her handshake is soft as the typical tone of her voice, but no less self-assured.]
You must know a lot about this place—both of you? [With a side glance to Aubrey, who nods. Mari doesn’t want to press her, however; Lord knows what she’s had to see out here. Armin looks capable, not to mention that… gear, of some sort? So Mari’s attention returns to him.]
[Aubrey is stung, lightly, by this, but it’s sensible enough; Mari knows her, to some degree, and Armin is new. She figures she and Mari will have plenty of time to catch up later, and stays back for the moment. Gives her a chance to collect herself, too.]
[Mari continues:] And I don’t just mean this restaurant. [She takes a glance around; still empty as ever.] This isn’t a real Denny’s, is it?
[Eren. Thus, the damper; Aubrey shares the sentiment about small talk. Sure, maybe that was another illusion like Armin said earlier, but…]
[Mari replies before that thought can spiral.]
“‘Dubious’? And what’s this about worlds?” [Her brow furrows, uncertain.] “I have some catching up to do, don’t I?”
[To say the least. Aubrey speaks up, finally, as she takes a chair from the nearest table:] Yeah, we’re in some sort of f— weird limbo, now. [Feels weird to swear with Mari in the room.] I don’t—
“Aubrey, don’t drag the chair on the floor.”
[Aubrey stops dragging the chair on the floor.]
—Anyway, none of us know why, exactly. We, ah…
[She trails off as Mari sits down. Come to think of it, nothing about the way Mari’s acting suggests she… knows. Damper number 2, it is....]
[Armin watches Aubrey deflate as she's talking. Whatever it is she was about to say, it doesn't seem like she much wants to now. Armin won't swoop in and take over, but he can complete the thought in some fashion, if that might help Aubrey get her bearings.]
We're not sure exactly why it is we're here - how we got here, how to get back...
[Mari remains none the wiser. She frowns as Armin speaks, both from the content of his words and because Aubrey has returned to staring at the table. Aubrey’s always been sensitive, her and Basil; Mari can’t imagine she’d be faring well here even without a stalker.]
[Her reply is to Armin, but she keeps watching Aubrey.] That… is rather distressing, yes. [Aubrey glances up, catches her; ducks her head, as if ashamed. Which only makes Mari more concerned, but…
[She turns to Armin as she continues, tone remaining serious.] I do hope this place is kind to you, wherever it is. You and Aaron both. [Ah, how to warn him without setting Aubrey off....] I’m sure you know there are some… rather unscrupulous characters, here.
[It's clear that Mari is trying to communicate something to Armin. He's not quite sure why she's trying to be subtle about it, but it does seem rather clear that Mari is some sort of role model figure for Aubrey; at least, Armin thinks so.
[As soon as she says "unscrupulous characters", Armin knows. He tries to exchange a brief look with Aubrey, though she may not be looking at him.]
Sorry - did you meet someone who bothered you?
[The possibilities are quite literally endless, Armin realizes - but it's Eren. It has to be Eren.]
[Aubrey is not looking at Armin, and nothing about his tone lets on who he might be thinking of. Independently, it’s not a connection Aubrey makes; she’s only ever seen Eren with herself (which, well), Armin (loaded) and, indirectly, Reiner (very loaded).
[Thus it sounds to her like Mari is hinting at yet another unknown, and a dangerous one at that. It has Aubrey sitting upright again—and, without noticing, rubbing down that ring-scar. Eren sounded so desperate....]
“Hmm. I’m glad you haven’t, then.” [Mari taps her fingers slightly, still laced below her chin. It’s as though she’s playing a little tune.] “You really should be careful—”
Who was it?
[Mari turns to her immediately, more surprised than anything.]
Sorry to interrupt, it’s just— Eren, our friend. We’re worried about him.
[Aubrey hasn't made the same connection. Armin needs to tread carefully here to avoid a misunderstanding; they tend to spiral. Depending on what Eren's said or done to Mari already, Armin might quickly find himself in deep water. He doubts Aubrey would get the same treatment.
[It's a mess. With Eren? Always a mess.]
Our friend, yes. [He speaks a little louder than Aubrey, if only to take the floor. He tries to remain inconspicuous otherwise - and he's rather good at that.]
Eren is very important to us. He's a bit of an acquired taste - maybe you've met him?
He has dark hair that he pulls back, and green eyes. Does that sound familiar at all...?
[There's a bit of an act to what he's saying. It all sounds innocuous enough, but everything about his tone paints a fond picture, even with the admission of Eren being an "acquired taste". The tone is both self-aware and casual, inviting Mari to latch onto an impression of Eren as someone they both trust before she can figure out that whoever managed to upset her is likely the same guy...]
We've been worried sick about him. He doesn't do well alone. [Here's where the manipulation begins in earnest. Armin drops his voice, speaking to Mari directly the way she did with him when she didn't want Aubrey to latch on.] I'm meant to look after him. He's not a bad guy, he can just be...a bit...reactionary, if you know what I mean.
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I did see her. [She must be someone important to Aubrey. Maybe...someone who isn't around anymore where Aubrey's from?]
I...don't think that was an illusion, no, although...it's a bit hard to say...
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[There was a time when seeing, even hearing, the living specter of Mari might not have phased Aubrey this much. Jarring, sure, but not like this. She’s been here too long. She’s worried sick about Eren. She’s tired. She’s so goddamn tired....]
[Is Armin’s confirmation a blessing or a curse? Like every other fucking thing here, it’s both and neither, all in one.]
[The “waitress” doesn’t return right away, just as she said. (Turns out trying to make small talk with backstage shadows is a futile endeavor.) Steadily, Aubrey stops shaking, and wills herself to sit back up. Still visibly shaken, but she can delay a total meltdown as long as “Mari” is out of sight. Probably.]
Sorry. S-sorry. [There’s nothing there, but she wipes her eyes briefly.] Mari is… [A sister. A mother. A friend. Everything she wanted and could never, can never, have.]
…She meant a lot to me.
[Eren. She came here to talk about Eren. She stalls, a little, first.] Have you… seen anyone else here, since? Besides me and Eren.
[Mentioning Bertholdt outright could be too much, but…] …Even if they’ve passed on, in your world.
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No, I haven't. I mean, I thought at first that maybe Eren and I were...[His voice trails off. It's too terrible to think about. He sucks it up anyway.]
I thought maybe we were dead, but...I don't know if I really buy that anymore.
[There's a pause.]
The other day in that department store, when I had that breakdown...I thought for a second that I saw someone - the boy I was telling you about.
I wouldn't place my bets on that, though. It could have easily been one of Bertholdt's memories or something like that. I see them all the time.
[But why would he see him in one of his memories...?]
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[It’s impossible to tell if anyone here died or not, isn’t it? Bertholdt’s the only one who’s been certain. Aubrey’s starting to think it doesn’t matter. (But then, Mari…)
[Focus. Armin was aware of Bertholdt, then. There’s no point keeping him in the dark.]
It might’ve been both your memories, actually. [Shame there’s no swirling coffee to stare at. Aubrey watches Armin’s tapping knuckles, instead.]
I don’t know how much you were there for, but… I ended up on a rooftop, with Bertholdt. [Her own hands pull at each other; a slow, absent motion. She misses Eren’s palms over hers, even if last time he seemed to want to break her.] You turned into an illusion, at some point. And Bertholdt knew—that you weren’t there, and that he had died.
[A pause. That’s a lot to take in; she won’t bring Reiner in yet. But…] He doesn’t blame you. For what happened.
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[Her last words make him suck in a sharp breath through his nose, eyes going slightly wide. He lays his palms down flat on the table, feeling a tickle at the nape of his neck; a tickle in his sinuses as well.]
Bertholdt...told you that? Really?
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[That response has Aubrey meeting Armin’s face again. Of course he’s tense. It puts her on alert, too; she won’t reach out just yet, but if he so much as starts to repeat himself… It’s almost impossible to be ready or anything here, but hell if Aubrey won’t try.]
He did. [She nods, slightly; solemn, affirmative. If only she’d paid more attention; there was more to what Bertholdt told Armin, wasn’t there?]
We were trying to wake you up… Well, “you.” I hadn’t realized the real you was gone, yet.
[A steady inhale. Bertholdt never told her to pass anything along, but she feels a bit like a messenger again.] Bertholdt… I think he blames himself, more than anything.
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Yeah...
[The knuckle-tapping slowly picks up again, and Armin nods, eyes on the table.]
I think...we can all relate to that in some way.
[His throat does go a little hoarse as he's talking; he chokes it back, clearing his throat.]
We were friends. Despite everything, we...were friends once.
[Ah, but. This isn't really about him. Bertholdt's not in the same building as them right now - at least, not to Armin's knowledge. But...someone else is.]
Do...you want to talk about it? Your friend...?
[She should be back any minute, but...here? Who knows?]
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[Maybe that’s what this is—a special Hell for people floundering in their own guilt. Aubrey watches Armin closely as he talks, and much as it’s a relief that he stays present, it doesn’t make it any easier to see him hold back.
[Of course he wants to shift the topic. Uneasy as it makes Aubrey, she can do that much for him. She still doesn’t know if she wants “her friend” to come back or not.]
I-I mean… she passed away four years ago. [It’s Aubrey’s turn to stare at the table, visibly restrained. It’s easier to talk about Mari like a passing memory, not someone who might actually be here.] I was twelve. Of course she wouldn’t recognize— Why would she be here?
What’s the lesson? The world’s sweetest person—
[Muffled, from somewhere in the kitchen: “You’re being very rude!”
[Aubrey… has heard that voice, too, on occasion.]
[It’s funny, in a horrible sort of way. She looks back to Armin, not quite smiling; it’s more of a cringe, a secondhand embarrassment.] I thought I was over it. It’s not like she ever did me any wrong....
[There’s one possibility gnawing at Aubrey, and she doesn’t want to say it. She never did learn why Mari killed herself. Could this world really be that cruel…?]
2/2
Very sorry about that!
[Goodness, the staff here are bizarre. Faceless, for one, and hardly conversational. But there’s no point nagging dead ends, and Mari might as well turn her attention back to the people waiting for her. She’ll make their food herself if she has to.]
[Pink girl isn’t facing her, but doesn’t seem too upset anymore. (She is, unbeknownst to Mari, staring very intently at her hands, and deliberately not moving.) Back to business, then.]
[With a smile to the young man, then:] Have you decided what you’d like to order?
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[This is a real person. He can't blow her off like he does the staff (he doesn't do that either, actually--). Part of him wonders if he should send her away, tell her that they don't want service right now, but...who is he to rob Aubrey of an opportunity to talk with an old friend...?
[He inclines his head toward her, keeping his voice very soft, very quiet.]
Aubrey...?
[If Mari overhears him, it could easily sound like he's asking her if she wants anything.]
1/4
Aubrey?
[It may be quiet, but Mari’s brother is very soft indeed; she’s used to reading lips. Moreover, it’s silent enough in here to hear a pen drop. Which it does, when the realization clicks.
[The hair. The bow. The… reaction, somehow. Certainly not quite the Aubrey who Mari knows, but—
[She chokes back a sob, and Mari would recognize that anywhere.]
Aubrey…
2/4
“It’s okay. I’m here now.”
[Mari kneels down beside the table, and Aubrey just crumbles. She can’t quite bring herself to turn, but she doesn’t cover her face, either; it’s her, it’s her, it’s her. Mari’s talking to her in that soft, gentle voice she hasn’t heard in so long, and it makes her want to wail like a baby. If Armin wasn’t here, and if she had just a little less pride, she might as well.]
“You’ve gotten so big…!” [Aubrey can’t even be mad she’s being talked to like she is, well, still 12. Finally she turns her head, as Mari takes a strand of pink between her fingers; that scrap of dignity is on very, very thin ice.] “And you dyed your hair…! Told you pink would be cute on you.”
[Oh, hell with it. Aubrey throws herself at Mari in a hug, blubbering.] I missed you… so much....
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[Mari hears this entirely the wrong way. Of course Aubrey misses her; seems lots of time has passed in this strange place, and she’s been stuck with that… whoever it was.
[It remains unvoiced for the moment, however. She sits back on the floor and lets Aubrey—older, it seems, but doubtlessly still Aubrey—fall into her, holding tight. Mari strokes her hair, brushing it with her fingers, and Aubrey cries harder. Poor girl....]
[Mari has many, many questions, but she’ll indulge this just a biiit longer. There’s no one around to see, anyway—except this person Aubrey’s with. And since Aubrey’s not exactly in talking shape, Mari addresses him directly, with an eternally grateful smile:]
Thank you for keeping her safe.
4/4
[…Huh?]
[Aubrey leans back at that, albeit staying close. Part of her never wants to look away from Mari’s perfect, beautiful face again—but Mari is looking elsewhere, and Aubrey wipes her eyes and follows that gaze back up to Armin.]
O-oh, sorry… This is my friend Armin. Armin, Mari.
[She tears herself back as Mari offers Armin a handshake; Mari stands, while she’s at it, and when Aubrey helps her up, Aubrey keeps her hand held tight.]
[For once, things actually feel, truly and with no denial, like they could be okay.]
famous last words, aub
[Polite as ever, Armin obliges, shaking Mari's hand with a sincere smile.]
It's wonderful to meet you, Mari.
[He'd say he's heard a lot about her, but he hasn't. Hell, he hasn't even heard all that much about Aubrey, but...]
1/1
You as well, Armin. [Mari has a small, pleasant smile around others as a default; as she takes Armin’s hand, it could not be more genuine. Her handshake is soft as the typical tone of her voice, but no less self-assured.]
You must know a lot about this place—both of you? [With a side glance to Aubrey, who nods. Mari doesn’t want to press her, however; Lord knows what she’s had to see out here. Armin looks capable, not to mention that… gear, of some sort? So Mari’s attention returns to him.]
[Aubrey is stung, lightly, by this, but it’s sensible enough; Mari knows her, to some degree, and Armin is new. She figures she and Mari will have plenty of time to catch up later, and stays back for the moment. Gives her a chance to collect herself, too.]
[Mari continues:] And I don’t just mean this restaurant. [She takes a glance around; still empty as ever.] This isn’t a real Denny’s, is it?
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[There's a pause. Surely Aubrey wouldn't mind him mentioning Eren? He quickly clarifies:]
A friend of ours from my world. He's not here right now.
[Right. Right. Eren...It's difficult to make small talk when he could be in some sort of torment...]
I'm not entirely sure how this place compares to the Denny's you know, but..."real" is kind of a dubious phrase around here.
1/2
[Eren. Thus, the damper; Aubrey shares the sentiment about small talk. Sure, maybe that was another illusion like Armin said earlier, but…]
[Mari replies before that thought can spiral.]
“‘Dubious’? And what’s this about worlds?” [Her brow furrows, uncertain.] “I have some catching up to do, don’t I?”
[To say the least. Aubrey speaks up, finally, as she takes a chair from the nearest table:] Yeah, we’re in some sort of f— weird limbo, now. [Feels weird to swear with Mari in the room.] I don’t—
“Aubrey, don’t drag the chair on the floor.”
[Aubrey stops dragging the chair on the floor.]
—Anyway, none of us know why, exactly. We, ah…
[She trails off as Mari sits down. Come to think of it, nothing about the way Mari’s acting suggests she… knows. Damper number 2, it is....]
2/2
[Mari rests her chin on her hands. She glances between Aubrey, who seems to deflate as she sits back down, and Armin.]
You… what…?
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We're not sure exactly why it is we're here - how we got here, how to get back...
I'm sure that must be distressing. I'm sorry.
[Does Mari know that she's...?]
1/2
[Bingo, Armin. “We might be dead.”]
[Mari remains none the wiser. She frowns as Armin speaks, both from the content of his words and because Aubrey has returned to staring at the table. Aubrey’s always been sensitive, her and Basil; Mari can’t imagine she’d be faring well here even without a stalker.]
[Her reply is to Armin, but she keeps watching Aubrey.] That… is rather distressing, yes. [Aubrey glances up, catches her; ducks her head, as if ashamed. Which only makes Mari more concerned, but…
[She turns to Armin as she continues, tone remaining serious.] I do hope this place is kind to you, wherever it is. You and Aaron both. [Ah, how to warn him without setting Aubrey off....] I’m sure you know there are some… rather unscrupulous characters, here.
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[“Aaron”?]
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[As soon as she says "unscrupulous characters", Armin knows. He tries to exchange a brief look with Aubrey, though she may not be looking at him.]
Sorry - did you meet someone who bothered you?
[The possibilities are quite literally endless, Armin realizes - but it's Eren. It has to be Eren.]
I haven't personally had that experience, no.
1/1?
[Aubrey is not looking at Armin, and nothing about his tone lets on who he might be thinking of. Independently, it’s not a connection Aubrey makes; she’s only ever seen Eren with herself (which, well), Armin (loaded) and, indirectly, Reiner (very loaded).
[Thus it sounds to her like Mari is hinting at yet another unknown, and a dangerous one at that. It has Aubrey sitting upright again—and, without noticing, rubbing down that ring-scar. Eren sounded so desperate....]
“Hmm. I’m glad you haven’t, then.” [Mari taps her fingers slightly, still laced below her chin. It’s as though she’s playing a little tune.] “You really should be careful—”
Who was it?
[Mari turns to her immediately, more surprised than anything.]
Sorry to interrupt, it’s just— Eren, our friend. We’re worried about him.
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[It's a mess. With Eren? Always a mess.]
Our friend, yes. [He speaks a little louder than Aubrey, if only to take the floor. He tries to remain inconspicuous otherwise - and he's rather good at that.]
Eren is very important to us. He's a bit of an acquired taste - maybe you've met him?
He has dark hair that he pulls back, and green eyes. Does that sound familiar at all...?
[There's a bit of an act to what he's saying. It all sounds innocuous enough, but everything about his tone paints a fond picture, even with the admission of Eren being an "acquired taste". The tone is both self-aware and casual, inviting Mari to latch onto an impression of Eren as someone they both trust before she can figure out that whoever managed to upset her is likely the same guy...]
We've been worried sick about him. He doesn't do well alone. [Here's where the manipulation begins in earnest. Armin drops his voice, speaking to Mari directly the way she did with him when she didn't want Aubrey to latch on.] I'm meant to look after him. He's not a bad guy, he can just be...a bit...reactionary, if you know what I mean.
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2/3 whoops
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3/3 imagine remembering title numbers
I lied I’m up
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introspection only tag for u
1/1 wow novel
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1/1 until further notice
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