genessia | Chapter 6

Entry tags:

Chapter 6 | Video

[Armin wakes in a hospital bed shaking, feeling alone and frightened and bereft. It takes him a few moments to piece together what happened, but then all the memories of the past week come rushing back - and he wishes they hadn't. The torture on its own, he might have been able to handle - but combined with the terror and trauma of his previous death, it had been too much. He runs his hands together disbelievingly, marveling that they're whole again, without pain or scar - or without new scars, anyway.

He takes out his phone, shying from the memory of his actual death. He'd have to face it sometime, but... not now. It's just too soon. He feels like he should take a few moments to compose himself before making a post, but, especially upon seeing he's been dead several days, he's not sure he'll be able to compose himself, without finding out what's happened - if everyone else is all right. And he wants to let them know he's okay too (physically, anyway) as soon as possible.

The camera is shaking a little when he turns it on, his eyes are wide and he's extremely pale. But, though his voice is tremulous, he's very much alive.]

I, um. I'm b-back, I guess. I'm s-sorry for anyone who h-had to see that, or anyone who w-was worried. But I'm b-better now.

Is... is everyone else all r-right. Sansa? Mikasa?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ They were right, praise the Gods. Her prayers had been answered, he had come back, he was-- well, probably not okay, but he would be. She'd make sure of it.

Her response comes as she's flying out of the apartment's front door- running to meet him at Stranger knows where.... ]

Where--

[Armin's look of relief nears her own in intensity.] Sansa! I was so afraid...

[He cuts off, looking around.] I'm at th-the hospital, though I'm not really s-sure where that is.

[Ah, first things first; letting Levi know about this before she says anything. Done.

Time to say... something. Anything.] Welcome back. [Always a good start.]

[Armin takes a deep, shaky breath, giving Petra something that's almost a smile, but doesn't quite manage it.]

Th-thanks.

I'm coming, I'll find you. [ ....She has no idea where it is either, but that's all ignored for the sake of getting to him as fast as she can. ]

W-wait, Sansa! [He wants to see her, more than anything, but...] Don't come alone.

[Anna has been mostly just crying for days. Literally. Checking the network here and then to see if she could find something to distract herself, but nope.

Except this.

No one told her, that he would come back and if it's somewhere there to be found for anyone to see, Anna sure hasn't seen it. So excuse her for missing the most important detail, now she's just staring in shock at his video. It's not like coming back from the death is anything new to her, she's been through that too but hers was waaaaaay different.

Okay. That's it. She's gone insane and she's started seeing things. Or this is just a dream! Maybe her imagination has taken another wild step to something crazy wild and -- Wow, sorry Armin, Anna is actually really, really happy to see you but she's also too confused. She saw that video, yeah, talked with Mercury even and now you're suddenly just there?!!?]

...

[First try of saying something goes so well. ... Let's try that thing called words again.]

... Armin?

[ She falls silent for a moment- considering his words, then shakes her head. When he speaks again, it's void of passion, but at least her voice is there. ]

I'm coming. I don't care.

[Aaaww, it's okay, Armin. She's definitely giving him a little smile though!]

It's great to see you. [Really, her smile could be a lot wider, but let's start with the little ones!] ... do you want us to come over too?

Edited (changes question bc no need to repeat) 2015-04-03 02:10 (UTC)

[ The feed pops on and it's just a wall. Possibly a very familiar wall, still stained with the dried remains of someone's blood. Then, rather abruptly, everyone's favorite asshole slides into the frame with a wide grin. ]

Armin! Buddy! I heard you're well on the road to recovery. That's great, we're both so happy for you! Right, Eas?

[The camera shifts over to Eas who looks very unimpressed with he world as she usually does.]

You had us so worried when you left so abruptly. It's so nice to see you're well. If there's anything we can do for you, just let us know.

[ At this point Mercury unceremoniously shoves himself back into the frame, lifting one hand to reveal... a glass. Of champagne. Where did he get a glass of champagne-- ]

To your health!

[Here's another face that is happy to see that they have come back and seem to be phyically okay. Chihiro wasn't sure how exactly to respond to this, so he keeps it to voice for the meantime.]

I-I'm glad that you are back and okay. [He was so happy to was crying, thus why he kept this to voice for now, but the sound of his voice made it obvious as well.]

I'm sorry... I-It may seem rude of me to say why, so I am sorry again. [He pauses slightly, he really didn't know how to handle such things. But at least he was trying.] But for now it's okay... We don't need to have lessons until you are ready, okay?

Welcome back Arlert.

[He really is glad that Armin is alive again. Though his mind is full of regret and sadness that he lost someone again without being able to do anything. Though he pretty much looks like the normal, composed Levi he always is...]

[She hasn't slept since then, and she's been working non-stop as well. Sorry, Armin, you don't get to see how she looks right now! But there is a very, very long pause before she speaks.]

Armin, I'd hoped you'd be back but I wasn't aware it would be so quickly. Do you remember which area you were killed in? The Guardians are working to monitor the gates while I do full sweeps, but that room could have been anywhere except Fayren.

[Another long, now awkward pause.]

Sansa is fine as far as I know. The last I heard, your squad was going after that Thing. I've been too busy to keep tabs on them after that first hour.

I'm glad you're alright, Armin.

[ She pauses for a moment. ] I know it's probably a little soon, but do you mind telling me where he took you? If you were able to see when he took you there, anyway. I'm not going to make you go back, but I do need to know where it was.

Th-thanks.

I... don't know, specifically. He b-blindfolded me, and did his b-best to confuse me on the way. It was definitely in Nova City, and there w-was an elevator we t-took to get to the basement. [He bites his lip, frustrated.] At my best guess... we were around [insert general area of the city here].

Edited 2015-04-08 15:02 (UTC)

Bridget? I...

[Where he was taken. Right. To business - he can do that. He takes a deep breath, ignoring all his fears and hurts, and sounds much more put together when he continues.]

I'm n-not sure exactly where, exactly, but it was somewhere in Nova City, in the basement of some building with an elevator.

Th-thank you, sir.

[He doesn't salute, for once - though that may simply be because they're talking over video.]

Thanks. I...

[He hesitates, uncertain, then abruptly locks the feed.]

T-to be honest, I think I'm g-going to need the distraction. I wouldn't mind continuing. Except... I d-don't know why he targeted me, and I wouldn't want to put you in danger. S-so maybe it's better if we don't continue our lessons. I c-can find may way around a computer now, after all, and I don't r-really need programming for my job...

[However much he enjoys it and enjoys learning, it isn't worth putting Chihiro at risk.]

Anna?

[Sorry, Anna, Armin didn't know either! So waking up was a bit of a surprise for him too...]

[Armin draws in a sharp breath and unconsciously cries out when he sees Mercury on his screen, instantly recoiling to the point of dropping his phone. Unfortunately it's still playing, and even the sound of that voice... he finds himself shaking again, uncontrollable panic coursing through him. All he can think of are hands reaching for his throat, his helplessness as the world starts to go dark - Mercury's laughter echoing in his ears, and even the pain of his ruined hands burning begins to fade...

He doesn't know how much time passes. Eventually, he comes back to himself, some time after the video's ended. Still breathing unsteadily, he manages to go over to pick up the phone, and with a deep breath, looks at the screen. It's gone dark.

He stares at the 'reply' button. He feels like he should respond - strike back somehow, show that it's not affecting him. But he doesn't know how. Eventually, feeling weak and hating himself for it, he hits the 'end call' button and puts his phone away.

That way, his trembling won't be quite so obvious to anyone who passes by.]

Could you f-find Sansa and c-come with her? She j-just left the apartment a moment ago. M-maybe I shouldn't be so worried, but...

[But at the moment, he can't help it, and really, who can blame him?]

Sansa... please. [He's actually pleading, a tone she's never heard from him before. His eyes are wide, and he's looking more frightened by the moment. If something were to happen to her...] W-wait for Petra. She's on h-her way to find you, and sh-she can show you where the hospital is. P-please...

[His last 'please' is all but a whisper. Maybe he shouldn't be this scared for her. But right now, he can't help it. He doesn't know why Mercury targeted him - he just knows what Mercury did to him. And he never want to have Sansa experience that.]

...I'll wait. [ She's not pleased, but Gods, she'll do anything to stop him from looking at her like that. His panic, his concern is awful, and makes her feel almost as helpless as she did when she watched the video of his execution.

She tells herself it's only because she doesn't know where the hospital is, that she isn't weak. She knows it's a lie.]

.... I didn't know what I was going to do, without you. I'm so happy.... [ Oh no, now she's crying, hot tears running down her cheeks again. ]

[Sansa is doing what?! This is what she gets for not exactly following ...Well she actually thinks that Armin has all the reasons to worry, except not for long because she's running to put her 3dmg on as soon as she hears that.]

Don't worry, I'll go find her as fast I can! I'll come with her.

[The channel goes quiet for a moment as Armin goes to plead with Sansa, and when he appears again, the relief in his voice is immediate and obvious.] Thank you.

She said she'll wait for you. But... s-still hurry, if you can.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 3

Chapter 6 | Video

video

video

video

video

video

video

no subject

video

video

[Video]

voice;

video

[Audio] Locked

locked; video

locked; video

[Audio] Locked

video

voice; locked

Is this audio or video?

[Not actually here]

video

video

video

video

video