tushanshu | 1st; video

[The feed begins without warning, picturing a young blonde boy sitting at his console. He’s slowly—oh so slowly, like the world’s most meticulous woodpecker—typing at the keyboard. One letter at a time. Tap. Tap. Tap. His gaze keeps switching from his hands to his screen, squinting, cocking his eyebrow, leaning in or out to get a better look, with an expression of concentration so intense it’s a wonder he hasn’t set fire to anything yet.]

[It’s obvious he’s never seen a computer, or anything remotely like it, in his life.]

[In the background, another boy is pacing around. Despite looking far more ragged than Armin, he seems to have limitless energy. He’s moving furniture, asking if Armin’s gotten the “lightsbox” working yet, switching light switches on and off, and eventually settling for carrying a lamp around.]

[They're both wearing a peculiar sort of uniform with a winged emblem on the shoulder and back, and for some reason, a very complex harness of belts.]

[Armin keeps on hunting and pecking as he was until he glances up to the monitor again, and notices something different.]

Recording…?

[He looks up out of the corner of his eye as he tries to remember what he was explained that implies. Surprise crosses his face as it returns to him.]

Ah, yes, recording-- Eren! I think I've gotten it to start showing us to everyone else!

[His friend shouts from the background]

Ask who's there! Anyone we know? Who's there?!

I suppose that's as good of a question as any... Is there anyone out there that we would know?

My name is Armin Arlert, of the 104th Trainee's Squad, presently in the Scouting Legion-- although I doubt that holds much weight here. Anyone from our "world" would be familiar with those terms though, so please, if you are, respond. And anyone else for that matter, who isn't a Kedan; what is Keeliai, exactly? Why are we brought here? What is beyond these walls? What could this city possibly be a stronghold against?

[He looks concerned, and leans back in his chair a little. There had to be some sort of threat, if they bothered with security... And he tended to think of such things in bad-as-possible terms.]

[Eren seems very grimly determined to ruin his eyesight as he tries to figure out how electricity works, switching his lamp on and off.]

...This place can't be any good if Mikasa isn't here too. [He mutters bitterly.]

[Armin sighs, because he feels the same way. He stares off blankly.]

We'll find her. It's only a matter of time.

ooc: [Joint post between Armin Arlert and Eren Yaeger. Specify who you want, or not, or both! Expect threadjacking, and lots of it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It's disgusting hearing Bertolt so confused, especially when Eren's convinced himself that this guy(this poor excuse for a living entity, this stinking garbage that needs to be thrown out), that he's the cause of every hardship Eren, Armin, and Mikasa have ever faced. The fact that Bertl has the will to knock on Armin and Eren's door, the gall to look them in the face and speak like he thinks he's some sort of equal-- it makes Eren sick to his stomach.

For once, though, despite what he feels, Eren keeps quiet. Armin'll figure out what to do with this traitorous piece of shit. ]

[It's so hard for him to swallow that this person, the Colossal Titan that ruined all their lives what felt like decades ago, who killed people beyond the point where they could be counted, was a person capable of acting like a child and making poor decisions. Confused, and desperate, and perhaps even hoping for camaraderie in friends he had betrayed.]

You won't be having any forgiveness from us. You've earned your solitude.

I know.

[He does. That's something they'd known right from the start; that they would be hated, that their actions were unforgivable.

In a way, the reminder of that fact is almost comforting. It makes it a little less difficult to draw the line and tell himself that these people are the enemy. It's still far more difficult than it should be, though.]

...Will it be alright for me to just leave? I don't want to make this into a fight.

...I want to know what you intend to do here.

[Armin still doesn't know where Bertolt came from, or his motives in their own world. Titan-shifter dominance? Senseless slaughter? He'd never know without being able to properly question one of them, and that opportunity wasn't going to present itself here. Not now anyways.]

[But Tu Vishan was a different matter entirely.]

I hold Eren back now because we are in the territory of Keeliai and the Kedan, and I doubt they would tolerate a battle between Titans in the middle of their land. We still don't know what they're capable of.

...However, if you do anything to harm the people here, I will not leash him.

I don't have any reason to hurt anyone here. [That's one good thing about this whole situation.]

I suppose...I should try to find a way back to our world, if there is one.

[ can't keep quiet whoops ]

So you can kill everyone there?! You disgusting piece of shit.

[Armin gives Eren's arm a little tug to reign him in.]

As much as I dislike the idea of you returning, there's little I can do to stop you. [He has no collateral with which to truly trust him either. He looks torn with the situation, but ultimately gives in.]

I doubt you'll object to me saying that we'll be keeping a close eye on you.

Edited 2013-09-06 22:34 (UTC)

[He wants to tell Eren that he doesn't want to kill anyone, that the whole reason they kidnapped him was so they wouldn't have to break the wall again, but he knows that would just bring on more rage. Best not to say anything.]

Do as you like.

We will.

[ Hissed out, more than shouted. An incredibly pathetic comeback, but if you point that out, he will fuk u up. ]

...Alright. I think you should leave now.

[His grip tightens on Eren until this knuckles go white, but not to hold him back-- moreso to hold himself back.]

[He nods and walks away. To his own suite. Which is...in the same tree...

Yeah maybe he should have mentioned that part.]

[ i hate seein u go but i love watchin u walk away ]

[As soon as he's sure Bertl is at least some distance away, Armin slams the side of his fist into the wall. Though normally so calm, his anger is now palpable.]

Damn it all! We had him right here!

Hey.

[ It's Eren's turn to place his hand on Armin's arm. ]

We can still chase him down? [ makes a move to do so ]

No... It's far too dangerous. [And when someone from the Scouting Legion says "dangerous" they mean "impossible".] We know nothing of our location or surroundings still. The sudden appearance of Titans would certainly end in disaster.

[Armin flexes his hand, looking at it absently.]

And even then, alone, he has no reason to tell us anything. As much as I'd like to see him dead, harvesting information comes first.

Do you want me to figure out where he lives? Just so he can't try to avoid us forever.

We'll ascertain that with time. Unless he decides not to live anywhere permanently.

Besides, he's a fucking coward. He'll probably come crawling back to us again at some point.

...I can't say much for his conviction either, if he would so readily come to us and then leave without a fight.

[He doesn't understand it. Why? They're enemies. To show up practically carrying a white flag; how would that benefit him? Was he trying to lull them into a false sense of security?]

[It can be taken into account that maybe, just maybe, he was lonely, or frightened. The person he remembered as Bertolt was a strong fighter but weak willed. Normally he stood behind Reiner and let him do the talking, gazing on nervously. Was Reiner the mastermind, and he was simply following orders? That was hard to imagine. Reiner was solid, but sometimes oblivious and far too blunt to handle such matters discreetly...]

[Armin realizes that he's staring off into space as he cogitates, shakes his head and sighs.]

He could be trying to play tricks with us, but I have a hard time believing that. I think he only realizes he's alone, and doesn't know what to do. Even as an enemy of humanity, we're the closest thing he has to comrades.

1st; video

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