[The pieces aren't difficult to put together, really; somewhere Aubrey knows, or close. They're in a living room - there would be a kitchen. Eren thinks of his home - thinks of how it would feel to open a door and walk into it, trashed.
[He feels cold, rotten, rage. It's time to stop pacing. He sits on the couch. He takes his eyes off of Aubrey.
[His hands twist in his lap...]
Tell me more...[His voice has gone quiet; it's not soft, but...comparatively, there's...care to it. It's always been there.]
[It feels wrong, somehow, that Eren would know this before… not anyone else, exactly. But does Sunny? Kel? If Aubrey had her way, they never would; the future they know doesn’t go the way she would have wanted, though.
[Fine. Whatever. It’s just a house.
[Sucks to be hers, is all.
[Eren sits on the couch, and Aubrey moves to sit… by it, actually. On the floor, at the corner. The person sitting there cares. She can believe that, from Eren.]
It’s… been like this, for years now. [Four years? Aubrey lets out a sigh. She pulls up her knees and crosses her arms over them, head resting sideways on top.] Well. Kind of like it. [The walls aren’t cracked....]
I used to hate calling it home. Then I did, for a while. And now I just…
[It's just what he suspected, and what Maruki's been trying to explain to him. They're here - not "home," but in a place Aubrey hated to call home - because Aubrey's mind knows this place...
[He can't pretend to understand everything that Maruki has said about cognitive manipulation and the collective unconscious - whoever's in charge fucks with all of their minds, and makes their minds fuck themselves back, too. That's what Eren knows. Now, Aubrey is a target.
[His rage hasn't died. It festers just like everything else.
That. [He says it like he doesn't believe it - like "that" is being dismissed entirely.]
Or, you expected a consequence, so you found one...[His voice has gone idle, like he's talking to himself more than anyone - just thinking out loud...
[He looks at Aubrey. He didn't notice himself mirroring her, his knees drawn up to his chest where he sits on the couch, arms folded over them.]
There could be something to this. I can't pretend to know exactly how it works. There's power to our memories, the things we think...
[They haven't learned nothing, actually - just not much more than people like Maruki already know. Eren's not sure how much he's supposed to say, but he trusts Aubrey with it all.]
I don't think it's a coincidence, but I don't know if it's a punishment, either.
[Ahead; they entered through the one behind them. There shouldn’t be a door here in her real house, but there shouldn’t be an arcade cabinet or coin or off-white couch, either. Best not to focus on the discrepancies now, though.]
[Really. She would have been content to glance over her shoulder on the way out. She thinks that, anyway; Aubrey’s thought a lot of things that turned out to be very, very wrong.
[Still.
[No windows. No kitchen. No upstairs. No cracks in the walls. No beige-yellow couch. No newspapers from the 90s, no fuzz off the static TV, no whiff of decay, no drink labels that change through the years. No hook for a pink raincoat; no garbage bags from half-hearted efforts. No beers in a fridge that he forgot to take with him. No strewn magazines that might have been interesting to her once, maybe about 16 years ago. No unswept ash. No scattered glass.
[No more mess.
[It’s not even a house.]
…Yeah. [It comes out soft, despite. Aubrey hasn’t really moved.]
[There’s something to be said for how much this all mortifies Aubrey, and Eren… just lets her have that. There is, and she doesn’t have the energy, but she finds herself reaching for his hand as he retreats. Key in one, Eren in the other.
[She hesitates.]
Hey, uh… when you tell Maruki…
[Words flash. How much does Kel know, really; how much has he passed along?
[It’s a when, not an if.]
Just… I wasn’t thinking of this, before we got here. If that matters.
“Good… work?” [There’s a faint twitch of a smile on her face, though. Hard for there not to be, when their hands are together.] I just said some crap about my old house.... You did all the work.
[There's a very genuine look which crosses Eren's face, lips twitching just slightly to the side as he tries to work through something between his ears before spitting it out of his mouth - he does that sometimes now!]
It's like...emotional work. I mean. If you kinda feel like shit right now, I think it means you did a good job.
[Therapy kinda works...?
[All he knows is...if they'd walked into his childhood home today instead of Aubrey's, he's not sure he'd still be standing upright the way she is, hands held or not. He's impressed by her resolve...]
Reality tried to fuck with you, but you're still here, so. Yeah. Good work.
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no subject
[He feels cold, rotten, rage. It's time to stop pacing. He sits on the couch. He takes his eyes off of Aubrey.
[His hands twist in his lap...]
Tell me more...[His voice has gone quiet; it's not soft, but...comparatively, there's...care to it. It's always been there.]
no subject
[It feels wrong, somehow, that Eren would know this before… not anyone else, exactly. But does Sunny? Kel? If Aubrey had her way, they never would; the future they know doesn’t go the way she would have wanted, though.
[Fine. Whatever. It’s just a house.
[Sucks to be hers, is all.
[Eren sits on the couch, and Aubrey moves to sit… by it, actually. On the floor, at the corner. The person sitting there cares. She can believe that, from Eren.]
It’s… been like this, for years now. [Four years? Aubrey lets out a sigh. She pulls up her knees and crosses her arms over them, head resting sideways on top.] Well. Kind of like it. [The walls aren’t cracked....]
I used to hate calling it home. Then I did, for a while. And now I just…
Can’t.
[She shuts her eyes.]
Maybe that’s the consequence.
no subject
[He can't pretend to understand everything that Maruki has said about cognitive manipulation and the collective unconscious - whoever's in charge fucks with all of their minds, and makes their minds fuck themselves back, too. That's what Eren knows. Now, Aubrey is a target.
[His rage hasn't died. It festers just like everything else.
[He's still listening.]
Consequence.
Your post?
no subject
Yeah.
[She moves her head just enough to glance back, up at Eren. Weird from this angle.]
I mean, you don’t seem to recognize it… but I’m not great at theory stuff.
Could be dumb luck.
no subject
Or, you expected a consequence, so you found one...[His voice has gone idle, like he's talking to himself more than anyone - just thinking out loud...
[He looks at Aubrey. He didn't notice himself mirroring her, his knees drawn up to his chest where he sits on the couch, arms folded over them.]
There could be something to this. I can't pretend to know exactly how it works. There's power to our memories, the things we think...
[They haven't learned nothing, actually - just not much more than people like Maruki already know. Eren's not sure how much he's supposed to say, but he trusts Aubrey with it all.]
I don't think it's a coincidence, but I don't know if it's a punishment, either.
no subject
[Expectations. Memory. Power. Reality.
[Aubrey sits up straighter.]
You get that from Maruki?
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Yes. He's a good friend of mine. There's a lot of truth to what he says, Aubrey. I know that for a fact.
What has he told you?
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[“Good friend.” Oh. Wasn’t Eren seeing him for counseling…?
[Whatever. More important topics at hand—]
A lot. I mean, maybe you know more, but—
Memory shapes reality. [She knocks her knuckles back against the couch. It’s not quite the right shade.] That was the big one.
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I wonder what may happen if we try opening one of those doors while thinking of something specific.
[Memory begets influence begets control, no...?]
This wasn't a waste.
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[Aubrey’s on her feet. She nods.]
Right. Then this one—
[Ahead; they entered through the one behind them. There shouldn’t be a door here in her real house, but there shouldn’t be an arcade cabinet or coin or off-white couch, either. Best not to focus on the discrepancies now, though.]
—leads to a hallway.
[Hand on the knob, firm. She turns it, and—
[Well.
[Fucking nothing.
[It doesn’t budge.]
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no subject
[Hand drops.]
…Right.
[A pause. Real, fake; memory, illusion; Aubrey’s in no rush to investigate this wreckage any further.]
Should we go back, then?
no subject
[She hated to call this place "home," but...]
When you're ready. [He's not sure if she might want to say goodbye. He turns away from her just slightly - just in case.]
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[That reply—it catches her.
[He turns away slightly. That gets her, too.
[Really. She would have been content to glance over her shoulder on the way out. She thinks that, anyway; Aubrey’s thought a lot of things that turned out to be very, very wrong.
[Still.
[No windows. No kitchen. No upstairs. No cracks in the walls. No beige-yellow couch. No newspapers from the 90s, no fuzz off the static TV, no whiff of decay, no drink labels that change through the years. No hook for a pink raincoat; no garbage bags from half-hearted efforts. No beers in a fridge that he forgot to take with him. No strewn magazines that might have been interesting to her once, maybe about 16 years ago. No unswept ash. No scattered glass.
[No more mess.
[It’s not even a house.]
…Yeah. [It comes out soft, despite. Aubrey hasn’t really moved.]
I’m done here.
no subject
[He goes to the corner of the room, stooping to sift through the pile of garbage he's accumulated there until he finds the little gold coin.
[He takes it over to Aubrey, the overturned cabinet; leans down, sets it upright again.
[He stands up. He takes Aubrey's hand, pressing the coin into her palm; her battle this time.]
I'm right behind you.
they were supposed to go insane!!!
[There’s something to be said for how much this all mortifies Aubrey, and Eren… just lets her have that. There is, and she doesn’t have the energy, but she finds herself reaching for his hand as he retreats. Key in one, Eren in the other.
[She hesitates.]
Hey, uh… when you tell Maruki…
[Words flash. How much does Kel know, really; how much has he passed along?
[It’s a when, not an if.]
Just… I wasn’t thinking of this, before we got here. If that matters.
[She inserts the coin, and squeezes Eren’s hand.]
THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GO INSANE!!!
[There are certain things Eren and Maruki can talk about that no one else can. He'll see what Maruki says before bringing Aubrey in, he decides.
[Still, he takes her hand, lacing their fingers. The coin is inserted, and there they are, back in the Enchanted Garden.
[Her other hand is taken. He loves her.]
Good work...[Captain Levi says it when Eren does well. So does Maruki, sometimes. Different reasons.]
the confidant only ranked up I fear
“Good… work?” [There’s a faint twitch of a smile on her face, though. Hard for there not to be, when their hands are together.] I just said some crap about my old house.... You did all the work.
You even cleaned up.
TEEHEE
It's like...emotional work. I mean. If you kinda feel like shit right now, I think it means you did a good job.
[Therapy kinda works...?
[All he knows is...if they'd walked into his childhood home today instead of Aubrey's, he's not sure he'd still be standing upright the way she is, hands held or not. He's impressed by her resolve...]
Reality tried to fuck with you, but you're still here, so. Yeah. Good work.
8,)
[If that place can’t get rid of her, where can?]
Heh… thanks, Commander.
[Aubrey feels… alright, actually. The air is fresh, and her hands are in Eren’s.
[She kisses his cheek.]
Love you.
I GUESS WE CAN WRAP? OKAY AUBREN! OKAY!!!