[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.
[Armin successfully captures Mari’s attention, wholesale. He talks a bit too much for her to catch up with the subtext of “acquired taste,” and she’s left with the impression that, though their friend Eren is abrasive, he isn’t dangerous. “Green eyes” does catch Mari’s interest, but only for a moment’s eyebrow raise; besides, this Eren person is… a person. Did she even see more than one eye in the darkness, come to think of it?
[Anyway, Armin is kind, and he’s been looking after Aubrey. (Not something either have confirmed, but no denial, either; Mari’s assumption, once more, goes unchallenged.) Moreover…]
A good friend of Aubrey’s is a friend of mine. [Mari nods, confirming. She’s not particularly concerned about whether Aubrey catches on or not; Mari’s not trying to hide anything.] It sounds like he must get in trouble like this often… I’m sorry to hear you’ve been so worried. But I haven’t seen anyone matching that description, no.
[Aubrey feels like she’s being shafted, for some reason. It’s not that Armin’s saying anything false—well, mostly? The “meant to look after him” idea is… new, to say the least, but maybe he’s talking about that friend-responsibility. It’s not like Aubrey is eager to explain her new, er, tattoo, anyway… much as all this is delaying the inevitable.]
[So she keeps quiet. It’s good that Mari will give Eren the benefit of a doubt, if they do meet. Probably best that Armin introduced him, all things considered.
[Now if only all this talk got them any closer to where Eren is....]
[Huh. At this point, it would be reasonable to assume that Armin must have been mistaken, and that Mari hasn't run into Eren after all. He wouldn't expect her to have any reason to lie. Still, he can't quite shake the idea...]
Can you tell us more about the person who...bothered you? I'm not sure you actually mentioned what they did.
[Right… Mari glances to Aubrey again for a second, concerned anew. (Say, is she wearing a ring? Considering everything else, Mari didn’t catch that until now.) Aubrey might be young, but she’s not stupid; she must know Mari wasn’t talking hypothetically about troublesome people.
[Still, she’s anxious about Eren. Mari can see it in that furrowed brow, the self-comforting hand motions. And the last thing Mari wants to do is dredge up… whatever terrible situation Armin got her out of.]
[Mari turns to Armin again, shaking her head. Teenagers. It’s an affectionate, somewhat nostalgic exasparation. But surely Armin can tell she’s not keen to discuss this in front of Aubrey…?]
[Aubrey isn't a little kid. She's Armin's ally and Eren's...something. If the stakes were higher, he might play along and ask for forgiveness later. Not that the stakes aren't high - Mari still might know something about Eren - but as of right now, it feels safe enough to push just a little more...]
Mari, with...all due respect. [He politely inclines his head as he says this.]
This world can be a dangerous place, and...it's really best if we're all prepared for what might lay around the corner. You never know when you might end up alone. It's the ugly truth.
[Aubrey, for one, is very grateful for Armin’s backup. She doesn’t feel like getting mad at Mari… ever, really, but especially not today. He’ll get a grateful ‘thank you! fuck’s sake’ kind of look for that.]
[Mari doesn’t notice. She does not at all like that Armin is echoing that thing in the cel, right down to the warning about being alone. Maybe she should have regarded his defense more carefully.]
[Nonetheless, the frown is brief.] Of course. None taken, Armin; it is best to be informed.
Is there a particular reason you mentioned being alone, by the by?
“Just tell us who you saw.” [Aubrey butts in, potentially interrupting Armin.]
[Goodness. She’s never been one to hold her tongue, but something truly must have happened.] Aubrey. [There’s the slightest warning in Mari’s tone, not quite a scold but the promise of one.
[Immediately Aubrey turns away, folding her arms. Mari reminds herself to be patient. Whatever did turn her into this, never mind the usual teenage hormones, must be far more difficult to deal with than any temporary snippiness.]
[Back to Armin, then. Apologetic.] I believe the figure I saw wants to hurt Aubrey. Forgive me if I’m a bit hesitant with the details.
[Something isn't right. Armin can tell that Mari doesn't trust him; more so than that, he reminds himself that she has no real reason to trust him. Aubrey being friendly with him is the only thing he has working for him. He still can't shake the sensation that Eren has something to do with all this. When Mari says that she believes the figure wants to hurt Aubrey, it - for whatever reason - only reinforces that suspicion. Not because Armin thinks Eren would hurt Aubrey, but because he knows his friend can come off as quite...intense in regard to the people he cares about.
[Just what is going on here, exactly...?]
We've all been alone here at one time or another. We try our best to stick together, but we don't always have that choice.
[To his credit, he tries to keep his tone a bit more casual.]
When you say figure...[Maybe if he slips it in casually enough, she won't head for the hills about it.]
Was this thing you saw...not a human?
[An idea occurs to him quite suddenly. He straightens up in the booth and pats the ODM gear on his hip.]
If what you saw was a monster, it might be one I'm familiar with. I'm a soldier where I come from - a Commander, actually. Fighting monsters is all I know.
[Mari is quiet for a moment, to allow Aubrey a chance to speak again. She doesn’t.]
[In fact, Aubrey feels strangely wounded, and stays turned away from both. But she is, through her ever-gnawing concern for Eren, trying to listen. What’s Armin getting at now…?]
[Pause aside, Mari plays casual right back; and really, the surprise at Armin’s gear is no act.] A soldier! [If he truly is keeping Aubrey safe (and Aubrey did call him a friend), however much or little they’ve managed to stay together, it’s good to see Armin has the gear and know-how to back that up.
[It also, Mari notes, means he’s an even more dangerous threat if he’s allied with that monster.]
I couldn’t tell if the figure was human or not. [Slight concession, nonetheless. Mari knows she doesn’t a chance should Armin turn that gear on her. She grasps in the dark for any sort of advantage. What does he want, really…?]
It was hard to see anything clearly. All I knew was that it talked like a human man. [And whistled that song, hollow and dead.]
[Armin nods, a gesture of understanding. It doesn't confirm nor deny that the monster sounds familiar, and that's by design. He saw her surprise (and, perhaps, intimidation) at the ODM gear.]
And he said...
[Sorry, Aubrey. Armin can tell that she's put off, and he doesn't blame her, but...he wants to find Eren as badly as she does. He lowers his voice for Mari again, leaning in a bit for effect.]
[Aubrey, detecting only mind games that are flying by and large over her head, turns back to them both with a huff.]
If there’s something after us then why mess around? I’m not gonna be upset. [She sounds pretty damn upset.] If we knew where Eren was he’d take care of it anyway.
[She knew she should have had this conversation away from Aubrey. For the briefest moment, irritation flashes across Mari’s face—and settles to a baseline neutral.]
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[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...?]
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[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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[Armin successfully captures Mari’s attention, wholesale. He talks a bit too much for her to catch up with the subtext of “acquired taste,” and she’s left with the impression that, though their friend Eren is abrasive, he isn’t dangerous. “Green eyes” does catch Mari’s interest, but only for a moment’s eyebrow raise; besides, this Eren person is… a person. Did she even see more than one eye in the darkness, come to think of it?
[Anyway, Armin is kind, and he’s been looking after Aubrey. (Not something either have confirmed, but no denial, either; Mari’s assumption, once more, goes unchallenged.) Moreover…]
A good friend of Aubrey’s is a friend of mine. [Mari nods, confirming. She’s not particularly concerned about whether Aubrey catches on or not; Mari’s not trying to hide anything.] It sounds like he must get in trouble like this often… I’m sorry to hear you’ve been so worried. But I haven’t seen anyone matching that description, no.
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[Aubrey feels like she’s being shafted, for some reason. It’s not that Armin’s saying anything false—well, mostly? The “meant to look after him” idea is… new, to say the least, but maybe he’s talking about that friend-responsibility. It’s not like Aubrey is eager to explain her new, er, tattoo, anyway… much as all this is delaying the inevitable.]
[So she keeps quiet. It’s good that Mari will give Eren the benefit of a doubt, if they do meet. Probably best that Armin introduced him, all things considered.
[Now if only all this talk got them any closer to where Eren is....]
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Can you tell us more about the person who...bothered you? I'm not sure you actually mentioned what they did.
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[Right… Mari glances to Aubrey again for a second, concerned anew. (Say, is she wearing a ring? Considering everything else, Mari didn’t catch that until now.) Aubrey might be young, but she’s not stupid; she must know Mari wasn’t talking hypothetically about troublesome people.
[Still, she’s anxious about Eren. Mari can see it in that furrowed brow, the self-comforting hand motions. And the last thing Mari wants to do is dredge up… whatever terrible situation Armin got her out of.]
Armin, why don’t we talk outside—?
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No. I want to know, too.
[Aubrey stares forward, at nothing in particular, when that comes out. Now she’s definitely being kept in the dark. Why?]
“Aubrey, it’s not—”
[And now she’s annoyed.] I’m not twelve anymore. [She’s aware she sounds petulant, anyway.]
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[Mari turns to Armin again, shaking her head. Teenagers. It’s an affectionate, somewhat nostalgic exasparation. But surely Armin can tell she’s not keen to discuss this in front of Aubrey…?]
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Mari, with...all due respect. [He politely inclines his head as he says this.]
This world can be a dangerous place, and...it's really best if we're all prepared for what might lay around the corner. You never know when you might end up alone. It's the ugly truth.
1/1
[Aubrey, for one, is very grateful for Armin’s backup. She doesn’t feel like getting mad at Mari… ever, really, but especially not today. He’ll get a grateful ‘thank you! fuck’s sake’ kind of look for that.]
[Mari doesn’t notice. She does not at all like that Armin is echoing that thing in the cel, right down to the warning about being alone. Maybe she should have regarded his defense more carefully.]
[Nonetheless, the frown is brief.] Of course. None taken, Armin; it is best to be informed.
Is there a particular reason you mentioned being alone, by the by?
“Just tell us who you saw.” [Aubrey butts in, potentially interrupting Armin.]
[Goodness. She’s never been one to hold her tongue, but something truly must have happened.] Aubrey. [There’s the slightest warning in Mari’s tone, not quite a scold but the promise of one.
[Immediately Aubrey turns away, folding her arms. Mari reminds herself to be patient. Whatever did turn her into this, never mind the usual teenage hormones, must be far more difficult to deal with than any temporary snippiness.]
[Back to Armin, then. Apologetic.] I believe the figure I saw wants to hurt Aubrey. Forgive me if I’m a bit hesitant with the details.
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[Just what is going on here, exactly...?]
We've all been alone here at one time or another. We try our best to stick together, but we don't always have that choice.
[To his credit, he tries to keep his tone a bit more casual.]
When you say figure...[Maybe if he slips it in casually enough, she won't head for the hills about it.]
Was this thing you saw...not a human?
[An idea occurs to him quite suddenly. He straightens up in the booth and pats the ODM gear on his hip.]
If what you saw was a monster, it might be one I'm familiar with. I'm a soldier where I come from - a Commander, actually. Fighting monsters is all I know.
1/1
[Mari is quiet for a moment, to allow Aubrey a chance to speak again. She doesn’t.]
[In fact, Aubrey feels strangely wounded, and stays turned away from both. But she is, through her ever-gnawing concern for Eren, trying to listen. What’s Armin getting at now…?]
[Pause aside, Mari plays casual right back; and really, the surprise at Armin’s gear is no act.] A soldier! [If he truly is keeping Aubrey safe (and Aubrey did call him a friend), however much or little they’ve managed to stay together, it’s good to see Armin has the gear and know-how to back that up.
[It also, Mari notes, means he’s an even more dangerous threat if he’s allied with that monster.]
I couldn’t tell if the figure was human or not. [Slight concession, nonetheless. Mari knows she doesn’t a chance should Armin turn that gear on her. She grasps in the dark for any sort of advantage. What does he want, really…?]
It was hard to see anything clearly. All I knew was that it talked like a human man. [And whistled that song, hollow and dead.]
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And he said...
[Sorry, Aubrey. Armin can tell that she's put off, and he doesn't blame her, but...he wants to find Eren as badly as she does. He lowers his voice for Mari again, leaning in a bit for effect.]
...that he wanted to hurt Aubrey...? Really?
[At this, Armin looks genuinely disturbed - looks.]
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[The intensity is either legitimate or a herring. It’s not a play Mari can afford to misread.]
[“She belongs to me.” It’s all he said, in truth. But even a 16-year-old Aubrey wouldn’t have sworn herself to him… Would she?]
[Simply, mirroring Armin’s seeming disturbance, Mari nods.]
2/3 whoops
Oh, for the love of—
[Aubrey, detecting only mind games that are flying by and large over her head, turns back to them both with a huff.]
If there’s something after us then why mess around? I’m not gonna be upset. [She sounds pretty damn upset.] If we knew where Eren was he’d take care of it anyway.
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[…Aubrey’s really worried about this Eren person, isn’t she?]
I’m sorry, Aubrey. [It’s not ingenuine.] Eren might be stuck with them, too.
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[She knew she should have had this conversation away from Aubrey. For the briefest moment, irritation flashes across Mari’s face—and settles to a baseline neutral.]
The figure was trapped.
There were multiple cells.
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Were they empty?
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I couldn’t tell.
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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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