video | first winter

[canbebrave]

[ Something feels off about this time. The lack of the psychic connection, the absence of her fellow Travelers, and most importantly, the welcome package. It's all puzzling, but she's willing to put aside her confusion to switch on the video feed.

When the feed starts, it reveals a solemn looking young lady, holding herself as regally as possible. When she speaks, it is with deliberate politeness.]


Hello. This is the Lady Sansa Stark of Winterfell speaking. I seem to be your newest arrival. I must deliver my kindest thanks for the welcoming gifts, as well as the communication device. The materials inside proved to be most helpful.

I, however, am not quite sure what I am expected to do from here. I would be more than happy to assist in anyway I can, as it seems newcomers are expected to do. I would also like to get to know all of you.

Thank you for your time. [ She bows her head, then curtsies politely, and the feed finishes.]

Comments

[canbebrave]

[ Sansa's cheeks heat up, feeling him against her, but she doesn't jerk away. When she does draw away, it's only slightly, and only from her shoulders up, so she can get a better look at his face. She gives him a kind, reassuring smile, using her free hand to brush his hair back from his forehead. ]

It's... a good thing, isn't it? [ She has a decent idea of how these things work, but she has to double-check with him, first. ]

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin swallows hard, but gives a couple quick, nervous nods.]

Y-yeah, it... it m-means it feels g-good.

[He's reassured by how calm she's remaining, even if he can't seem to help but be embarrassed by it.]

[canbebrave]

[ She presses a kiss to his forehead, looking awfully pleased with herself. ]

For me, too. [ ...That part doesn't matter though, not as much, she knows that. It's more about him, than anything. ]

[neverfeltthatway]

[That gets him to smile again. If that felt to her anything like it did to him...]

I'm glad.

[He leans up, placing a soft kiss on the side of her neck.]

[canbebrave]

[ Sansa shivers as he kisses her-- then: TOTALLY RUINS THE MOMENT ]

Did you mean what you said earlier?

[neverfeltthatway]

[Armin pulls back, looking genuinely confused.]

What did I say?

[It's not that it wasn't important to him - but he had been completely sincere about it, so it doesn't occur to him as something she might be questioning.]

[canbebrave]

[ Now that he's pulled back, she scoots off of him, sitting up on the bed. ]

You said you loved me. Did you mean it?

[neverfeltthatway]

[His eyes widen as he realizes her train of thought, alarmed.]

Yes!

[He pulls his feet onto the bed, sitting up too - suddenly more subdued and cautious, looking down.] I guess... I had a lot of time to think, these past five weeks. When I thought I'd never see you again. And I thought a lot about how much you mean to me. I mean, I knew I liked you, but... I didn't realize just how much until - until you were gone.

[He looks up, expression dead serious, and - deliberately meeting her eyes - takes both of her hands in his.] I love you, Sansa Stark.

[canbebrave]

[ Sansa's waited her entire life for this moment. To be truly loved by someone. Of course, she's always been beloved by her family- but for Sansa, who always dreamed of romantic love, and been disappointed by failure so many times, this is an amazing moment. Her heart races, as a large smile spreads across her face. Finally. After all the years of waiting, after giving up, she's finally found someone who loves her, and who she loves in return.

His hands are squeezed tightly, her pale blue eyes meeting his own. ]

I love you, too.

[neverfeltthatway]

[It's a different experience for Armin - this is a moment he had never truly envisioned in the first place. Maybe in a stray daydream one in a while, sure - but nothing he ever thought would actually come to pass.

On the one hand, the moment is a little surreal. Who'd have thought that someone could ever love him like this, especially someone like Sansa. But on the other, he'd come to this realization weeks ago, so even if he's just hearing it back from her now, it's much less sudden for him.

His smile is much smaller, soft and tender, but every bit as genuine. He leans in to kiss her once more - a shorter kiss this time, sweet, but still passionate.]

[canbebrave]

[ Short and sweet the kiss may be, it still makes her heart melt. She's falling back into his arms before she can stop herself, head returning to its spot on his shoulder. It takes some maneuvering, with the height difference, but she manages. Sansa just wants to be as close as possible to him right now, determined not to let the Gods separate them again.]

I never thought I'd be happy to stop traveling.

[neverfeltthatway]

You didn't?

[Armin's voice is soft, but curious. Thinking about it, he realizes he'd never thought much of what would happened after he finished Traveling. There had never seemed to be time for such speculation, and even when there had, there'd been no way of knowing where or how or why their journey would end. However... it is true that Genessia seems a better place for them to stop their journey than most.

Armin brings his arms around her once again, holding her close.]

[canbebrave]

I always assumed, that when we stopped traveling, things would go back to the way they were. [ His arms wrapped around her are a welcome warmth. She sits up a little, scooting closer to him, wrapping her arms around his neck- loosely, so as to not upset him after the trauma of Harrogate. ]

That I'd be alone, again.

[neverfeltthatway]

[He tenses unconsciously as she loops her arms around his neck, but it only lasts a second. Harrogate seems a distant memory, with Sansa in his arms. His arms tighten and he pulls her closer.

His throat feels tight. With Eren freshly vanished, he knows you can't control when you leave any more than you could as a Traveler - but some promises have to be made anyway.]

You won't be alone. I won't let that happen.

[canbebrave]

[ She knows he can't make that promise- but he makes it anyway, and she allows it. Sometimes, lies are a necessary evil.

She's close enough now- and she finds herself sliding onto his lap, hesitantly, unsure if it's alright. ]

Thank you. I won't... [ ...He has Mikasa now, his other friends. He wasn't alone, even before she came to this place. He's never been alone, the way she has. These bitter thoughts are pushed to the back of her mind, where they can't hurt her. ] I won't leave you either.

[neverfeltthatway]

[Even if he seems a little surprised, he doesn't seem to mind when she slides into his lap, shifting to make it more comfortable for her. He keeps his embrace tight, arms circling her protectively.]

...I know you won't.

[Like he'd said earlier. They'd look after one another. He can't help that he's never been alone like she has - but he can try to make sure it never happens again, and that's exactly what he plans on doing.]