abandonhumanity | PSL / MEME CONTINUATION

[He glances between both of them, the unspoken question being: “Do you care about that sort of thing?”]

[The question has her smiling, faintly.] Yeah. “Nice.” Or to be a rebel, I guess—but it’s definitely for the look.

[Eren’s… confusion, is it? is duly noted. Aubrey doesn’t expect a guy to get it, though.]

What’s rebellious about having pink hair?

[He’s taunting her, but it could be a legitimate question.]

Is it illegal where you’re from…?

Edited (Slightl clarification ) 2023-10-30 05:51 (UTC)

[The smile turns mischievous. Oh, they’re really out of their league, aren’t they?]

Nah, nothing illegal. It’s just—not a lot of people do it, colors like this. It sticks out.

And there’s a bunch of assumption crap attached—like, you must be a terrible person because you don’t conform, or it just makes you weird or whatever. [Sure, Aubrey doesn’t think she’s a great person, but this is unrelated.]

It’s refreshing that you guys haven’t been like that, honestly.

Seems like a stupid thing to make a moral judgment call on.

[Considering…]

[Mikasa’s voice is more appreciative; there’s a reverence to it. She’s looking at Aubrey’s hair.]

I barely even get to decide what I’m going to wear.

I’ve been cutting my hair short for years. I haven’t left much room to do anything special with it.

[A quick “you can say that again” nod in Eren’s direction.]

[Mikasa, meanwhile… Aubrey can’t hide it, that’s a sad revelation. Not even clothing?]

Wow. Maybe you can grow it out here? [It’s hard to tell if Aubrey’s has; she’d expect roots showing at least a little by now, but she also didn’t think the blood on her jacket would disappear with the next… place, session, whatever these jumps to full consciousness are. There must be some trick to it…] If you want to, that is.

This place is all about intention, I think. I’m not sure how far it works, but… [A quick point to her eye.] I used to have colored contacts. They’ve stayed off since I wanted them to be.

[To change the color of her eyes...? How could she have possibly managed that? Not the same ink, surely. It would be a struggle to keep the look of confusion off her face, so she doesn't try.

[It's still strange, standing here and talking as if everything happening - here, back at home, a marriage, a genocide - is completely normal. But...It's better than Eren running off again, or pushing her away, or telling her he hates her...

[Armin was right. Something about him feels different now - familiar, maybe. The Eren she knows lives inside; always has. It's only a glimmer, but...]

Do you have any idea how long you've been here...?

[Her voice is careful.]

Armin couldn't tell. As far as we know, there's no way to return - right?

Not yet.

[Eren keeps his voice as cold and even as a wall. Mikasa is drifting into dangerous territory, and he can tell by her expression that she knows that. The last thing he needs is to get into an argument about staying or leaving. He fears it will become a new horse to beat to death; a relative of the first one. Sometimes Eren doesn't know what he wants anymore.]

[“Yet” earns the slightest hint of a glare from Aubrey, but it doesn’t last. The longer they’re here the stranger going home would be—right? It would for her. And far as she’s aware, Eren still thinks everyone in his world deserves to die. It’s not a topic Aubrey feels like breaching again.]

No. [Belatedly she offers Mikasa her own answer.] People like you and Armin… show up, somehow. Same as we did. But if anyone here ever goes back, well… [Aubrey’s been taking for granted that she’ll see everyone again sooner or later. Her hold on Eren’s hand tightens somewhat.] …I guess it’s impossible to tell.

Is there anyone else here from home...?

Whose home…?

[With a glance at Eren (she almost takes his hand - hers moves in that direction, but...the gesture never quite comes to fruition):]

Our home.

Me and Armin. That's it.

[There's a pause. Eren's brow pinches slightly. He recalls Basil and looks at Aubrey.]

Unless you know something I don't.

[Well. It was coming sooner or later....]

…Look. It’s never been a good time— [Focusing on Eren, now, and only him. She expects to lose his hand again at any moment.]

But when you disappeared from the store, I talked to Bertholdt. And later… [Her eyes drift down to that backstabbing name. It makes Aubrey flinch just to look at it.]

…him, too.

[Bertholdt's name makes Eren's teeth set on edge. When Aubrey's eyes drift down to his chest, his hand slips out of hers for the express purpose of making a fist; his other hand mirrors the action.

[There's a flame in his eyes - certainly familiar to Mikasa, and likely familiar to Aubrey by now too. It's a terrible look. Every inch of his skin is prickling with unpleasant goosebumps - anticipation, longing, and rage.

[Him? She can only mean one thing.]

What the Hell are you talking about?

[Anger - pure anger. But, then, something else too; a hypocritical injury.]

You didn't tell me that? What the fuck is wrong with you?

[Is she on his side-- Is she on his side???]

[Mikasa doesn't understand. She doesn't like that she doesn't understand. She should understand everything about Eren, but it's been a long time since she could say that. Her expression is wrought with concern, but there's a tension to it too; she's on guard, hand already poised above the blades of her ODM gear.]

What is she talking about, Eren? Who's here?

[A better question: Who from their world remains an enemy to both of them? So many are working against Eren now - herself included, in some ways...]

[Ah… there’s no way this could’ve gone well, no matter when, is there? Aubrey’s heart twists. She should’ve bit the bullet before they’d so much as thought about reconciling.

[There’s a temptation to just take his yelling, at least until guilt freezes over or warps into something else, whatever happens. But Mikasa— Just seeing her hand by the blade is a second, sharper jolt.]

Reiner. I-it’s Reiner— I’m sorry; [back to Eren, entirely; Aubrey’s hands, rigid, can’t decide whether to clench tight or raise in surrender;] I know how you are with him—

[She cuts herself off. Bad phrasing. Bad phrasing. But true.]

No, Aubrey, you don't. [His tone is nothing short of vicious.] You have no fucking idea.

[Then, this, perhaps unexpected, his voice a wounded hiss.]

I trusted you.

[And he should have known better. Where has trusting anyone ever gotten him?]

[Reiner. Mikasa lowers her hand, straightening again into a non-defensive stance.

[Life stops making sense again. Her brain says that Reiner is safe; then it reminds her that his goal is very much to hurt Eren - maybe only if necessary, but even so.

[Still...He cares about Eren too. He's made that much clear. It's not enough, maybe. It's not enough for any of them. But calling him an enemy--

[Who the hell knows who the enemy is anymore? She feels sick...]

Eren...

Shut your goddamn mouth.

“Trusted”—? W-wait, I didn’t lie to you—!

[They stood in that mirrored room for how long? They’ve had all the opportunity in the world for this, haven’t they? Aubrey feels sick—and yet.

[With Mikasa off defense, she leaves Aubrey’s awareness entirely.]

This is— This is exactly what I wanted to avoid, that’s what I know. [A tug at her fingers, a threat to curl in.] “We are the same.” Remember?

["We are the same."

["We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same." "We are the same."]

[A silhouette. His back is turned. He's yards away. A great, white tree, burning with light, branches out in front of him.

[Always just out of arms' reach until they're wrapped around each other, fighting for their lives, for the other's death.]

PSL / MEME CONTINUATION

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buckle up 1/3 (work may prolong the suspense)

2/3 we're getting there we're climbing the mountain together

3/3 CW descriptions of breaking bones

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2/3 gee what's taking pan so long I wonder what he's writing

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