ＶＩＤＥＯ ⁄ ＮＥＷ ＢＡＲＫ ＴＯＷＮ。

[throatwash]

( route's newest arrival isn't pleased, but for all the plethora of reactions one can experience in a new world... armin arlert is rather calm. he crouches at a water's edge, arm folded over his knees. his hair is wet, appearing longer than usual, and his chin is scraped raw. if someone mistakes him for a girl... well, it wouldn't be the first time. he sighs. )

How would you train a weak, ah, Pokémon? ( foreign, the question in the word itself. ) I understand they learn through battle, but can they learn through... Mm, exercises? ( the answer seems obvious, to be honest, but armin won't assume in the given circumstances. he doesn't want to waste the time, either, and this is an important step to integrating himself into this world. ) I think it would be more beneficial than risking serious injury or worse...

( — a splash of water, raining droplets over the screen. armin lowers the gear, revealing an upside picture of... a fucking magikarp. he smiles, though no one can see. softer, ) Don't worry. I use to be weak, too.

Comments

[throatwash]

Um, sorry.

[sadisticwarfare]

No, no, don't be. Initially it did irritate me that I was stuck here without any way to return home, but I've grown used to it. In fact, this world happens to be better than my own in some ways.

[Also he's not in a very good place back home. A really bad place. "Missing half his body" bad.]

[throatwash]

( ah, the marco bott of his world. he nods, though, ducking his head in thought. what friends has this man lost? does he think he will return home? would he want to fail the obligations created in this world? armin wonders if eschewing attachments is helpful. )

Mm. It's better than mine, too. I should... Be happy to be here. ( such conviction. ) It seems very peaceful. Is there a need for soldiers?

[sadisticwarfare]

[Marco got a way better send-off than he did...]

Give it time. You don't need to pretend to be happy here immediately. It's perfectly fine to be angry or upset that you've been taken away from what's familiar and thrust into an entirely new environment.

[That question gets Archer to frown for a moment before forcing the smirk back. It's definitely not a nice expression, but since Archer couldn't pull off a nice expression if his life depended on it, it'll have to do.]

No, the only ones doing the fighting are the Pokémon, and they're not soldiers. Think of them as comrades or friends. From what I've seen, they tend to prefer that.

[throatwash]

( and still, armin feels selfish. this world is... something from a dream. without titans and walls. peaceful. bright. open and free. what people would give to see it. instead, he feels anxious and wrong. cheap because the ocean is bitter without his friends and neither would want him to feel that. eren and mikasa would want him safe. he wants them in a hellish place for the good hum — no, for the good of their world. what an awful person, he thinks. )

Then, that uniform... ( isn't one he recognizes. but armin knows the pressed, clean lines of a soldier when he sees it. and it seems particular marks of distinguished service are universal. ) Is it from your world?

[sadisticwarfare]

[Archer's smirk widens at that - it is good to see someone who recognizes it and doesn't assume it's some sort of weird getup.]

I am Colonel Frank Archer of the Amestrian military. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[He doubts the name will mean anything since no one seems to know that Amestris exists unless they're from Amestris, but he does like bragging about his rank. Even if it has been three years and the rank was only temporary for the military operation... that failed horribly... Well, that's not important right now.]

[throatwash]

( armin isn't much of a slouch, but the muscles in his shoulder stiffen in an instant. he raises his head, inclining his chin, and his fist itches to salute this man. )

Cadet Armin Arlert. I don't know the Amestrian military, but it's an honor, sir.

[sadisticwarfare]

[...That's certainly an interesting way to salute, but he supposes not all militaries function like Amestris'.]

A Cadet, hmm? Where are you from?

[throatwash]

Wall Maria. I — ( he pauses. this region is called johto. and archer is from a region of name as well. the walls are... walls, the last remnants of the world. nothing more, nothing less. ) Where I come from, we don't have a singular name for where we live. It's the Walls or death.

[sadisticwarfare]

You don't come from a specific country? How odd. What is your world like?

["It's the Walls or death" is certainly an intriguing statement.]

i almost grabbed the anime intro lmfao

[throatwash]

( isn't it strange. armin has bore a calm stride through most of his arrival, but it isn't until this moment that he understands the circumstances to their fullest extent. he feels sick with more emotions than he can count or describe. )

Humanity... ( considering. deep breath and: ) Is on the brink of extinction because of Titans. — giant creatures that devour humans for no discernible reason. They don't need to eat for sustenance as they don't have a digestive track, and when they've had their fill, they vomit what... ( who. ) They've eaten to start all over. That's why we live behind walls.

it is a very nice intro

[sadisticwarfare]

[Well, whatever Archer was expecting it definitely wasn't that. He at least manages to look properly horrified, though it's more because of the sheer disgust at what he's heard than any sort of proper emotional reaction.]

They-- They eat people, even though they don't need to...? Why?

[...Okay no, that's probably not what he needs to be asking, give him a moment.]

...It sounds like a very difficult thing to deal with. I assume your military was formed to defend against threats like that?

[And if Armin is a soldier there, that probably means that they recruit young because they lose so many fighters. Oh. That's almost sad. It would probably upset a normal person, but this is Archer, so...]

[throatwash]

( well... given recent events, armin wonders. was each division designed for appearance's sake and nothing more? the reiss conspiracies are classified, though. and besides, his world must seem confusing enough. )

Except the Military Police, yes. The Garrison maintains and upkeeps the Walls, and the Survey Corps explores outside the Walls. Our goal is to reclaim the territory we've lost.

[sadisticwarfare]

Ah, I see. It sounds like a difficult life. If you don't mind me asking, which faction are you associated with?

[This is fascinating so he'll try to be polite to get more information!]

[throatwash]

The Survey Corps, sir.

[sadisticwarfare]

...I see.

[This is probably the point where he should make an attempt to be sympathetic, but Archer's never managed sympathy well before. The most he can manage is an awkward look and an even more awkward remark.]

I imagine that's been very difficult.

[throatwash]

( this isn't the first response that seems awkward, but armin reserves judgement. eccentric, perhaps, and he sees it in the service often enough not to mind. besides, what sort of response should he expect in the wake of his world? as if armin knows. )

Yes... But I chose the corps. I don't regret it.