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[reparator]

Who: Cerealians from all over!
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GENERAL OVERFLOW
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Comments

[goodtome]

[Whatever that stuff is, it gets in Armin's eyes. It stings, but he knows that can't be right. He knows that there's nothing really in his eyes either, for that matter. It still prevents him from getting a good look at his rescuer, no matter how he argues with himself that it isn't reasonable.

More running is the last thing Armin wants, but it's what he gets just the same. He stumbles along behind the stranger with only a quiet groan of protest. Whatever energy he has left needs to be channeled into more important things. Escaping death, perhaps.

Real or not, he isn't keen to find out what that feels like. So Armin allows himself to be lead away, panting and gasping unattractively, but all in one piece aside from his tired muscles and aching lungs. He can't quite gather the breath to thank his savior, but in spite of the groaning, he is grateful.]

1/2

[dirtdevil]

[ once they're far enough away to be out of sight of that slimy motherfucker, he stops for a moment to check on the mystery kid. you know, just to make sure he's still alive. ]

Are you o—

[dirtdevil]

[ ...wait. wait. are you fucking kidding me? he stares, only half-believing this is a real thing. ViViD has messed with him before. ]

Armin?

[goodtome]

[...That voice. He knows that voice. Oh, no, has he already disappointed his superior officer? He's only just arrived. It hardly seems fair.]

Yes, sir.

[Damn it. If only he'd arrived with his gear, or some knowledge of this specific location. Anything, to avoid being caught so helpless and unaware. Even if it stings, hae's glad at the moment that he can't see the expression on Captain Levi's face.]

[dirtdevil]

[ nah, it's not disappointment... emoting is just hard. incredulity is more like it. after all, he hasn't seen a face from his world in months.

so, naturally he has a lot of questions. but he's going to start with the one he was trying to ask before: ]

Are you all right?

[ aside from being kind of... slimy. ]

[goodtome]

I think so.

[Actually, he wants to throw up, but that's not going to help him save face, either. He settles for trying to wipe his eyes clear on his arm, but he just manages to smear the mud and slime around. Ugh.]

I thought-

[That they'd made a mistake, and taken only him when they'd had their choice of powerful allies standing all around him to enlist instead. It's a relief to be wrong about that.]

Is Eren alright?

[dirtdevil]

[ ...ah. this is not going to be fun. not that it was fun to start with, but how do you tell someone their best friend basically doesn't exist anymore? he'd looked briefly relieved to hear Armin was (allegedly) okay, but his expression darkens again hearing the question. ]

...We should keep moving. I can explain on the way. Can you walk?

[ as in, without being dragged along. not that he won't continue dragging Armin along if necessary. ]

[goodtome]

Not exactly, sir.

[This admission is full of guilt and regret. He's had an embarrassing day of failures, and he's loathe to admit to them. But he's been asked directly by a ranking officer.]

I can run.

[Though at the moment he can't see very well, so this is also likely to end in embarrassment.]

[dirtdevil]

[ ...wait, what? ]

You can run but you can't walk?

[ he's about to say something about that making no sense when he remembers this is ViViD and nothing ever makes sense. sigh. ]

...Okay, then I guess we can run.

[ he motions for Armin to follow him in the same direction they were running before, and then off he goes. this is going to be really fun running and talking. ]

[goodtome]

[That's a predictable outcome, isn't it? Armin still looks a bit miserable as he follows- and then sprints right past. He stops when he gets to the edge of his previous field of vision. His legs give out and he he sprawls in the mud, splayed palms and ribs heaving. Ow...

He's not worried that it will be difficult for Captain Levi to catch up. It's only a matter of waiting until he does. He probably ought to have explained his particularly ridiculous predicament a little better.]

[dirtdevil]

[ oh.

well, that was unfortunate.

he knew something weird was going on when Armin tore right on past him (no offense or anything, of course)—was he trying to impress him?—but then to fall flat on his face in the mud... it's hard to watch. this kid is having a really shitty first day. and he thought his own was bad...

after a moment of slightly stunned silence, he approaches Armin's filthy prone form. he hesitates briefly (he's never seen so much mud...), but then offers a hand to help him up. ]

I think you might be overdoing it a little.

[goodtome]

[He's not ready to take that hand up yet, but Armin accepts it anyway. When he gets to his feet his legs are still shaking. He has to close his eyes and remind himself that it isn't real. The mud and monster slime the captain just braved for Armin's sake aren't real either, but the gesture is.]

I can't stop.

[dirtdevil]

[ he sighs heavily, making an attempt to shake the excess mud off his hand after Armin's upright again. it sounds like frustration, but he's not intending to take it out on Armin. he just really, really hates this game. ]

I was afraid of that.

[ he gives Armin another once-over. this is going to suck. ]

I guess I'll have to carry you.

[goodtome]

[Oh no. Armin's face burns bright with the humiliation of the situation. He'd like to say no, of course that won't be necessary, but can he really promise not to run off mid conversation again? The truth is that he can't. He also can't assure the captain he'll be able to defend himself if left to his own devices. But-]

This place isn't real, isn't that what they said? So the consequences here must be impermanent, aren't they?

[In other words, even if the captain happens to leave Armin here in a bad way, it hardly counts, right? Won't he just be fine as soon as the "game" is... what was that expression? Logged away? There's no reason to trouble the man with all of this.]

[dirtdevil]

No, it's... a "game." Not real. But still, we're not gonna get anywhere if you keep collapsing.

[ he knows what Armin's getting at, though, and he looks him in the eye. ]

If you're implying I should just leave you here, forget it. ViViD glitches in weird ways, and I'm not going to take any chances.

[goodtome]

I don't think I understand.

[There's this whole new, confusing vocabulary in place here. Armin can't hold Levi's gaze, but he does feel the need to respond. It's just that part of that statement doesn't make sense to him. Again. It's frustrating.]

[dirtdevil]

[ he waves a hand dismissively. technology, man, don't ask him. ]

I don't, either. I don't know if I ever will. The point is that even if it's not "real," it still hurts, right?

[ or at least he imagines being forced to sprint until you literally collapse is probably at least a little uncomfortable. ]

[goodtome]

[The man does have a point. Armin winces a little, clearly agreeing even if he's not sure he wants to admit it out loud to a ranking officer. He rubs at his sore ribs again and then slowly accepts that statement with a nod. Yes, it really does feel unpleasant. In fact, he's utterly miserable.]

Is it supposed to?

[dirtdevil]

They want it to seem as real as possible. It's supposed to be a game, but people get sucked in here involuntarily every so often. We'll get out eventually, but until then we might as well try to avoid more monsters. Even if they are fake.

[ because they're still dangerous and also gross. ]

[goodtome]

Yes, sir.

[The captain is right, of course. Experience speaks volumes as well. They'd be best to move quickly, it's true. Still, it's never easy to swallow being a burden to others who could easily cross the course without him.]

If it's easiest, I can scout ahead.

[dirtdevil]

[ yeah, uh, with all due respect, that'd probably end with you face-down in the mud again, buddy. it's hard to see with dirt in your eyes. ]

No. Not in the condition you're in. I'll get us somewhere safe.

[ if you catch his drift. who wants a piggyback ride?? ]

[goodtome]

[He was afraid of that. Armin stares down at his boots again, mortified. To be carried back to safety by captain Levi is an enormous waste, but the captain isn't wrong. He's not going to have an easy time getting back alone.]

I see.

[dirtdevil]

[ he sighs, not missing the evidence of the mini existential crisis Armin seems to be having on his face. at the same time, he kind of understands. ]

Look, it's not your fault. It's just this shitty game doing what it does best. I'll get you out of here and on the way you can ask me whatever you want to know. Okay?

[goodtome]

[The idea of information is almost enough to perk Armin up.

It really would be, if it weren't for the fact that it's captain Levi offering to get him to safety. If only it were Eren or Mikasa, like usual. When it's been Reiner or even Connie, that's embarrassing enough. This is a whole new sort or predicament.

Still, he has his orders. Armin swallows his own sigh and nods. He may not like it, but he understands.]

[dirtdevil]

Good.

[ so, without further ado, he turns on his heel and kneels down, allowing Armin access to hitch a ride on his back. don't worry, it'll be fun!!

...you know, maybe. probably not. let's just get it over with. ]