[Thing is, Aubrey didn’t know it bothered her, either. Not really. She can’t even get mad at the “lost it;” it’s true.
[Another pause, ostensibly for movement. Her house is darker than it was before it had electricity; only that one window really lets light in. It feels like a cage.]
I don’t… know where to start. [Quiet, uncertain.] I’ve never…
[Motion in the dark; she cuts off sharp.
[But there’s nothing there. Must’ve been a shadow.]
That time you rushed me… I want to say no hard feelings. I do. [Is that fair?] And I can tell you weren’t— I mean, is that normal?
[Losing it, she means. Attacking a friend for no reason. Because something else makes you feel like a cornered animal, and that person is an easy target.
[Doesn’t think to clarify, though.]
[Eren wouldn’t have hurt her. That’s more than Aubrey can say for herself. Actually, he could have struck back at any point, couldn’t he? When she lost it, in the dream, long before…
[And Eren’s trying.]
Hey, it’s…
[No, it’s really not. She wishes this talk were in person. Reaching for his hand would say more.]
[She’s deflecting a little with that comment, yeah. Felt stupid to clarify after he apologized so much. Maybe she’ll bring it up another time, but the air feels just a bit lighter, and Aubrey just wants to breathe.]
And hanging out, yeah? [Tries to make that sound casual. Eren remembers every word....] If you’re free.
[imagine using modern slang and not groking The Eren Jaeger Connotations]
Oh. [Pleasant surprise!] Uh, I’m… I can be around whenever, really. [Sunny-dependent. But he doesn’t need her to dote 24/7, and she always leaves a note....]
Yeah. [How...do friends meet up to hang out, again? Usually he already has something to do, and what...Aubrey and he do is sword training, which...he kind of threw a whole tantrum about in that shared dream.
[But—and maybe it’s wishful thinking, or projection or what have you—Eren sounds… almost excited? So Aubrey doesn’t waste a second.
[Their training spot has suffered some from the overgrowth (where hasn’t?) but somehow not as much as expected. Maybe the dream skewed Aubrey’s expectations a bit. In any case, she’s looking less disheveled than she has in a while, though she left her contacts in the dark.
[It’s just good to be out of the house, and for once it’s not an errand run. Well away from the confusion of town, too. And it’s not a training session, either, but she brought her swords—plural. Something to clear the spot.]
[After everything the Dreamers in this place just went through, Eren isn't going anywhere without his ODM, so Aubrey isn't the only one armed. His outfit otherwise is casual; straps and harness, but no jacket or cape - just a long, black coat. He nods in greeting as he approaches.]
We're-- [Not her Captain. Don't bark orders.] I want to look for something by the edge of the forest, maybe a little deeper.
[He turns, glancing off toward the forest in question.]
This side's not the Enchanted one, so we shouldn't have much to worry about, but we don't have to go too far.
[Eren salutes back. It's been hard to use that salute lately, but not with Aubrey. It doesn't mean to her what it means to him and to the Scouts, and that's why he can stomach it. It's a comfort...
[He stands at ease and then starts toward the edge of the forest.]
You know Mikasa. [More...or less. Aubrey knows of Mikasa, at least.] What have I told you about Armin Arlert?
[Eren nods. He takes a deep breath. He marches just a few paces ahead of her as they approach the edge of the forest, fists balled up on his sides. He's still smiling. He really means it.]
Growing up, Mikasa and Armin and I had this tree in our hometown. We spent all our time there as kids. [It all feels like an understatement. The longer he's away from that tree, the more important it feels. He's glad that that's where his head is buried.]
If I tried to tell you what Armin Arlert meant to me...I'd never be able to.
[Another deep breath. The exhale is shaky. Tears squeezes themselves from his eyes and roll down. He keeps walking. It's alright...because...]
I know he'll be here soon. That's why...
[He turns to Aubrey, green eyes bright and glistening. It's a very real smile - it really, really is - even as tears fall around it.]
I hung that ocean painting you did in his room.
[Eyes back on the path ahead.]
And we're going to find him a tree. Not just for Armin...for you, and me, and your friend Sunny, too. For anyone who needs one to return to...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
[Thing is, Aubrey didn’t know it bothered her, either. Not really. She can’t even get mad at the “lost it;” it’s true.
[Another pause, ostensibly for movement. Her house is darker than it was before it had electricity; only that one window really lets light in. It feels like a cage.]
I don’t… know where to start. [Quiet, uncertain.] I’ve never…
[Motion in the dark; she cuts off sharp.
[But there’s nothing there. Must’ve been a shadow.]
That time you rushed me… I want to say no hard feelings. I do. [Is that fair?] And I can tell you weren’t— I mean, is that normal?
[Losing it, she means. Attacking a friend for no reason. Because something else makes you feel like a cornered animal, and that person is an easy target.
[Doesn’t think to clarify, though.]
no subject
I wouldn’t have hurt you. [Weak.] The blade was dulled, so I just…
[She has to understand, doesn’t she? She did the same thing.]
Nothing…has been normal for me in a long time. Since I got here, the future’s just gotten worse and worse…
What I lived in the Labyrinth…was more horrible than I can describe.
[He’s glad she didn’t see it in his dream - or hasn’t yet.]
I wasn’t angry at you. I thought I could handle it…
[The next part feels embarrassing, but…]
Jean has…been trying to tell me when I need to quit. Go settle down somewhere…
I’ve been meditating and stuff like that too, but…
[He’s trying so hard. It all feels useless.]
I’m sorry…
no subject
[Eren wouldn’t have hurt her. That’s more than Aubrey can say for herself. Actually, he could have struck back at any point, couldn’t he? When she lost it, in the dream, long before…
[And Eren’s trying.]
Hey, it’s…
[No, it’s really not. She wishes this talk were in person. Reaching for his hand would say more.]
…I forgive you. You’ve been dealing with a lot.
no subject
It's not that I don't want you to know me...
[This is what it all comes down to, right?]
I just want you to know the me that's right here. [They aren't different people - not really - but...]
What happened...can't be all of me, so...
Just take what's left. You get it, don't you...?
no subject
[Being someone different from the you of another timeframe—and yet still irrevocably you?]
Yeah. [Maybe the extent doesn’t matter.] I can get that.
[ … ]
Honestly, I want to get to know you. Always have.
no subject
I want to know you too. [Badly...]
I don't take the things you've told me lightly, or...what you've done...
[She holds him when he cries.]
I want to help you too. I will. I'll try.
no subject
[Is it… really that easy? They’ve both wanted the same thing, despite…?
[Aubrey’s done a lot to Eren. Wounded him. There’s that old gnaw, but she doesn’t want to waste time on it. He wants to help her.]
…Thanks, Eren. [She means it. Has to.] We’ll help each other… or, well. Try to.
That’s what friends do.
no subject
[What if I told you you were both stupid.]Yeah. We will.
[He probably shouldn't push her to talk more about her current situation, though he wonders (worries, even)...]
I'll be checking up on you, then.
what if they / they met in the labyrinth and they were b / both stupid
[She’s deflecting a little with that comment, yeah. Felt stupid to clarify after he apologized so much. Maybe she’ll bring it up another time, but the air feels just a bit lighter, and Aubrey just wants to breathe.]
And hanging out, yeah? [Tries to make that sound casual. Eren remembers every word....] If you’re free.
[imagine using modern slang and not groking The Eren Jaeger Connotations]gag
no subject
no subject
Oh. [Pleasant surprise!] Uh, I’m… I can be around whenever, really. [Sunny-dependent. But he doesn’t need her to dote 24/7, and she always leaves a note....]
Did… you want to meet later today? Somewhere?
no subject
[Heh...]
Help me look for something.
no subject
[Slight, perhaps, misinterpretation:] What’d you lose?
no subject
I'm not looking for that, though.
no subject
[ … ]
Is it… hard to find?
no subject
[That tree didn't just belong to Eren.]
Just meet where we normally do in a few hours.
> action :3c
…All right. Meet you there.
[She has no idea what he’s talking about.]
[But—and maybe it’s wishful thinking, or projection or what have you—Eren sounds… almost excited? So Aubrey doesn’t waste a second.
[Their training spot has suffered some from the overgrowth (where hasn’t?) but somehow not as much as expected. Maybe the dream skewed Aubrey’s expectations a bit. In any case, she’s looking less disheveled than she has in a while, though she left her contacts in the dark.
[It’s just good to be out of the house, and for once it’s not an errand run. Well away from the confusion of town, too. And it’s not a training session, either, but she brought her swords—plural. Something to clear the spot.]
no subject
We're-- [Not her Captain. Don't bark orders.] I want to look for something by the edge of the forest, maybe a little deeper.
[He turns, glancing off toward the forest in question.]
This side's not the Enchanted one, so we shouldn't have much to worry about, but we don't have to go too far.
[To Aubrey:]
Will you help me?
no subject
[He’s not her Commander, but Aubrey listens alert as though he is. They’ve both brought weapons. And it’s good to just feel… awake.
[She nods. Then salutes—Eren’s, this time.] Of course I will.
no subject
[He stands at ease and then starts toward the edge of the forest.]
You know Mikasa. [More...or less. Aubrey knows of Mikasa, at least.] What have I told you about Armin Arlert?
no subject
[Of Mikasa, yes. They haven’t met. Aubrey still thinks she’s the neat freak in the spouses’ household.]
[As for the other…] I don’t recognize that name. [But she’s heard a few things.]
no subject
He's the smartest person I know. No matter where we go, we'll find each other again. That's me and Armin's promise.
no subject
[Oh, that’s…
[Aubrey smiles a bit, but it’s softer. Much softer.] It’s a good promise.
no subject
Growing up, Mikasa and Armin and I had this tree in our hometown. We spent all our time there as kids. [It all feels like an understatement. The longer he's away from that tree, the more important it feels. He's glad that that's where his head is buried.]
If I tried to tell you what Armin Arlert meant to me...I'd never be able to.
[Another deep breath. The exhale is shaky. Tears squeezes themselves from his eyes and roll down. He keeps walking. It's alright...because...]
I know he'll be here soon. That's why...
[He turns to Aubrey, green eyes bright and glistening. It's a very real smile - it really, really is - even as tears fall around it.]
I hung that ocean painting you did in his room.
[Eyes back on the path ahead.]
And we're going to find him a tree. Not just for Armin...for you, and me, and your friend Sunny, too. For anyone who needs one to return to...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)