5th; video

[strategisch]

Just when I think I'm finished with unexplainable happenings.

[Armin is tired. Dead tired. He sits in front of the console and occasionally rubs at his face, or his temples, or shoulders while speaking, and sports some rather impressive dark circles under his eyes.]

The other day, I was doing my food shopping in the Wood Sector. Usually I buy things on sight or by tastes the Kedan give me, and that's alright, but... Out of nowhere...

[He looks so at a loss it's almost comical.]

I could read Kedanese. All of it. Everything! And even stranger, I still can't speak it! I see the words on the signs and I just... I know what they mean. When I see them, I can sound them out as well, but when faced with a Kedan to actually communicate, I can't do it anymore. Honestly. I can only read.

[Somebody please make the ride stop, I would like to get off now.]

Please, somebody say this has happened to you as well. I think I'm going insane. I must not be getting enough rest...

Comments

Video

[bindsthedead]

That did happen to me, actually. Although Asti- Tu Vishan- was the one who gave it to me. Have you had any odd dreams recently?

Video

[strategisch]

Dreams?

[Armin leans his head in his head as he tries to remember.]

I think... No, that was this morning... Maybe-- there was a dog? Blast, I never pay any attention to these things...

Video

[bindsthedead]

Yes, dreams! They're the only way Asti- and the other turtles, I suppose- can really talk to us. When he's awake... his mind is too big.

Video

[strategisch]

Oh. I had no idea... If I knew, I would have made careful catalog of my dreams...

[He rubs at his forehead.]

Is there any way to contact Asti, to ask?

[naismith]

You don't know what caused it?

[A short pause, and then with rather forceful interest,] How would you feel about providing translation services? [Preferably unpaid, given the state of Miles's current finances. Maybe if he doesn't bring up payment, Armin won't think of it either.]

[strategisch]

I have absolutely no idea.

[It's not the first time something unexplainable and bizarre has happened to him though. He was blind for a whole month not long ago.]

...Translating what, exactly? [He's not normally adverse to helping others, but he's had a lot put on his plate recently.]

[naismith]

Oh, this and that. I'm not sure yet.

[Extremely classified documents, if he can get his hands on them. He'll have to think about that one. Suddenly that plan is growing more feasible.]

But think of it as, hmmm, being kept on retainer. If you're amenable.

[strategisch]

I can't be kept on call, but if I have time, I don't mind helping you.

[He realizes that now, he might be one of very few, or perhaps is the only foreigner on Keeliai that completely understands the Kedan language. That does make him somewhat responsible to the people here...]

Video

[ixis]

Have you tried writing it?

Video

[strategisch]

Writing...? Oh no, I haven't-- just a second.

[He works with something just slightly off-camera-- he must keep writing utensils on the desk with his console.]

...Yes, it seems I can. And I thought the characters were so complicated...

Video

[ixis]

Curious. Have you been here long? Perhaps you've just picked it up gradually through osmosis.

Video

[strategisch]

I've been here for half a year, but I've barely had any understanding of the language until now.

audio;

[superieure]

Can you describe what happened?

audio;

[strategisch]

I wish I had more to tell you, but I really don't. I just could, one day. Like magic.

[Like magic. Those words are becoming less distasteful, but they're still just as confusing.]

audio;

[superieure]

[A soft hmm.]

Did you experience anything strange before today? Mysterious dreams? Voices? Met any odd locals?

audio;

[strategisch]

Nothing more odd than usual. Dreams... I never remember them.

voice, filtered;

[wreckingbert]

[It takes a long time for Bertolt to work up his courage to reply. He has been here long enough to get brought up to speed by Reiner and Annie, and he knows that Armin probably hates him just as much as everyone else does, now that he knows what he is. What he didn't expect was how much that would hurt. He thought he was used to be hated, but it seems there are still new ways to wound and scar him.]

[When he speaks, his voice is very quiet.]

You always were the smartest of all of us. You might have learned it just from being exposed.

voice, filtered;

[strategisch]

[He's so quiet, that for a moment, Armin has to think. But he doesn't remember Bertholt any other way. He spoke softly, and listened well, and Armin always felt comfortable confiding his dreams and worries in him. That same feeling wells in him again, as it did when Reiner ruffled his hair. It would be so natural, to continue conversation as if nothing had ever happened...]

Why do the three of you insist on harrying me at every turn?

[He doesn't sound annoyed or upset. He sounds tired. Resigned.]

voice, filtered;

[wreckingbert]

[He shouldn't have expected any other reaction. Really, the fact that Armin isn't angry with him should be a victory in and of itself.]

[So why does that exhausted resignation hurt worse than any shrieking ever could?]

I'm sorry for bothering you.

[He's sorry for a lot of things.]

video;

[spideyfanone]

The multiverse can be totally bonkers.

[Not a very helpful sentiment. He's kind of just bored and it sounds like a fun mystery that he'd definitely want to be able to repeat if it turns out to be possible.]

There's a whole bunch of weird psychic stuff around here, local and imported. Probably something to do with that. Which can be freaky.

video;

[strategisch]

"The multiverse"?

[That's alright. You can be Armin's new vocabulary teacher today.]

I've been on the receiving end of inexplicable magic here before, but this is just... How does one even accomplish this? Suddenly creating knowledge?

[spideyfanone]

[Uh, oh, a chance to be pedantic and long-winded about a subject he knows well? Genius teenagers. What a pain.]

Multiversal theory postulates that there are an infinite number of universes, and they diverge from each other based differing events, whether those events are on the level of one molecule splitting or sticking together, or the end of a race of sentient beings, or an exploding galaxy. That, I have to assume, is where all us weirdos come from. Travel between worlds can happen a bunch of ways. I've been to like, twenty.

[Right. Anyway.]

And I'm assuming it was a transfer of information they had to your brain, however that worked out. I've known psychics who do junk like that, and there are baby turtles in everybody's dreams right now, so it's not even weird.

video; private (SUPER LATE SORRY)

[escarabajo]

Um... Hi. I'm back.

[A careful wave.]

How's that Kedanese going?

[Not quite as smooth a re-introduction as he'd been going for, but how else should he go about it?]

video; private as penalty you must PROVIDE STARBUCKS

[strategisch]

[Armin blinks a couple of times, because he's that tired, and already convinced he might be hallucinating...]

...Jaime?

[Still, he offers a shaky smile.]

Is it really you? That was quite a hiatus you took there.

video; private I GOT SOME FOR EVERYONE

[escarabajo]

Really really.

[He smiles, a bit sheepishly.] I wouldn't have left if I could've helped it, but... yeah.