Uh hey. It looks like I'm gonna be here for a while, so does anyone know where I can get my hands on a van? I'm gonna need somewhere to live once the weather gets better. I can't just crash on people's couches forever.
I knew that this is what she wanted, having Steven. I knew that she was so very old and tired and that the thought of bringing someone new like him into the world, something no one had ever tried before was worth giving up her self and her gem.
But I just wish-- I wish I'd had longer with her. We had years. But it just wasn't--
I mean, I know why we couldn't wait too long. Because if I was going to be Steven's dad I couldn't be so old that I wouldn't make it until he grew up. Just--
[Yeah. Armin gets it. Maybe not exactly because it is not like he has ever been married (common law or otherwise) or has a kid, but he sort of gets it. The rough idea, at least.
But boy. This is also kind of heavy subject, isn't it? And very personal and he has literally never ever met Greg face-to-face.]
Right. Uhm. Sorry, this got a little--
[Some people can just smoothly drift from one subject to the next. Not Armin. He's no schmoozey, golden-tongued fast talker.]
I'm not sure if you've managed to meet up with Rose yet, or how much she has explained about this world, but, uh, if you've got any questions, I don't mind trying to answer them.
I did find Rose! Everything was such a weird blur over the weekend but I almost remember trains and boats and walking and then-- Rose. Although I didn't realize it was her at first, because. Well. You know.
She's explaining things... but since she's not originally human, she might miss things? So I might take you up on that.
[Rose is a very interesting friend to have, but yes, her approach to life and humanness is not exactly standard.]
I know arriving here is pretty confusing, so anything that comes to mind, I don't mind answering.
[It had been highly confusing and a bit frustrating to Armin mainly cause he is the sort that really wants to know the ins and outs of everything and the ins and outs here were very different from the ins and outs back home. The sun didn't even set in the right place!]
[The way he says it, it definitely gives the impression of him putting vocal quotation marks around the name.]
She gets that way with everyone. Even if they are older than her. Even if they don't look a thing like her. She even does it with people that never had any parents. And afterwards, she seems to forget completely who you are. I mean, if you'd go back now and try to knock on her door or talk to her, she won't even acknowledge her.
I think Mom might be the biggest mystery in this world. Everything about her I mean. Why does she treat us like this? Why does everybody arrive in her cottage? Is she the one who gives us our first pokemon or are those already present when we arrive there? It's a lot of questions and I don't think anyone has the answers.
[Please take it easy on him. Remember Greg, they didn't have more than horse-drawn carts where he was from. All he's learned about technology he learned here, and boy, it has been a steep learning curve.]
[Armin's voice warms, talking about the concept of learning more and experiencing new things with the sort of fondness one might reserve for a lover or child. Armin doesn't have either of those, so for now, broadening his knowledge (and the ocean) can be his number one love.]
And nobody punishes or discourages you from it here.
Where I'm from humanity-- or, well, at least the part of it that I belong to lives among tall Walls. Going outside the Walls or even wanting to discuss or learn about what is outside the Walls is considered heresy and punishable by death.
[Which is... very much not all right. But really, it's just the tip of the traumaberg. Life can be kind of rough in a world where giant monsters eat people and also the government is corrupt.]
It's not even Greg specifically (though the fact that Armin barely knows him doesn't help) rather than he just prefers not to talk about this sort of stuff too much. He's discussed it with a few people, but it is not like that has ever changed things. Talking won't bring back his parents or his grandfather. It won't undo what the government had done to them.
Besides, everybody knows that the best way to handle distressing memories is to ball them up tight in the far recesses of your mind where they can slowly fester.]
[Greg's not going to push. He didn't push with Rose and he won't push with Armin. People will tell you things in their own time or they won't. And if they don't, that's fine too.]
Okay.
Anyway. Yeah. Gem stuff is pretty amazing. Rose was pretty amazing too. Though it's kinda funny seeing her in regular human clothes now. Since Gems are made of solid light, they just-- have their clothing as part of them.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Re: (Private)
I'm glad too.
I knew that this is what she wanted, having Steven. I knew that she was so very old and tired and that the thought of bringing someone new like him into the world, something no one had ever tried before was worth giving up her self and her gem.
But I just wish-- I wish I'd had longer with her. We had years. But it just wasn't--
I mean, I know why we couldn't wait too long. Because if I was going to be Steven's dad I couldn't be so old that I wouldn't make it until he grew up. Just--
I don't know, man. I don't know.
I'm glad I can have her back, if only for now.
(Private)
But boy. This is also kind of heavy subject, isn't it? And very personal and he has literally never ever met Greg face-to-face.]
Right. Uhm. Sorry, this got a little--
[Some people can just smoothly drift from one subject to the next. Not Armin. He's no schmoozey, golden-tongued fast talker.]
I'm not sure if you've managed to meet up with Rose yet, or how much she has explained about this world, but, uh, if you've got any questions, I don't mind trying to answer them.
Re: (Private)
[Armin can't see it, but he shakes his head.]
I did find Rose! Everything was such a weird blur over the weekend but I almost remember trains and boats and walking and then-- Rose. Although I didn't realize it was her at first, because. Well. You know.
She's explaining things... but since she's not originally human, she might miss things? So I might take you up on that.
(Private)
[Rose is a very interesting friend to have, but yes, her approach to life and humanness is not exactly standard.]
I know arriving here is pretty confusing, so anything that comes to mind, I don't mind answering.
[It had been highly confusing and a bit frustrating to Armin mainly cause he is the sort that really wants to know the ins and outs of everything and the ins and outs here were very different from the ins and outs back home. The sun didn't even set in the right place!]
Re: (Private)
[And also she's Rose and not talking about things she probably should have said something about is... well, what she does.]
I did kinda wonder what was up with that lady who said she was my mom. I'm pretty sure I'm older than her.
[He's well over forty by now, after all.]
(Private)
[The way he says it, it definitely gives the impression of him putting vocal quotation marks around the name.]
She gets that way with everyone. Even if they are older than her. Even if they don't look a thing like her. She even does it with people that never had any parents. And afterwards, she seems to forget completely who you are. I mean, if you'd go back now and try to knock on her door or talk to her, she won't even acknowledge her.
I think Mom might be the biggest mystery in this world. Everything about her I mean. Why does she treat us like this? Why does everybody arrive in her cottage? Is she the one who gives us our first pokemon or are those already present when we arrive there? It's a lot of questions and I don't think anyone has the answers.
Re: (Private)
[The way Armin's describing her kinda sounds like holo-Pearl almost.]
(Private)
Re: (Private)
Man, I wish Pearl were here. She could make one to show you.
(Private)
[Please take it easy on him. Remember Greg, they didn't have more than horse-drawn carts where he was from. All he's learned about technology he learned here, and boy, it has been a steep learning curve.]
Re: (Private)
[I MEAN IT'S NOT LIKE GREG'S A SCIENTIST OR ANYTHING.]
(Private)
[Greg has been there. He should know how the 4th Wall Weekends can fuck with a man's brain.
And also probably fuck with some other parts of you if your dead wife just happens to be here, but that is neither here nor there for Armin.]
Re: (Private)
(Private)
[listen, that is the conclusion he is drawing here. Nobody is getting educated from this conversation. Just more confused.]
Re: (Private)
I think humans can make them too, but not solid like gems can. And they're not as sophisticated as Pearl's are.
(Private)
[He chuckles.]
Each time I think I've started to understand it, it turns out there is even more.
Re: (Private)
(Private)
[Armin's voice warms, talking about the concept of learning more and experiencing new things with the sort of fondness one might reserve for a lover or child. Armin doesn't have either of those, so for now, broadening his knowledge (and the ocean) can be his number one love.]
And nobody punishes or discourages you from it here.
Re: (Private)
Oh.
Oh man. That's. That's unexpected and kinda heavy.]
Did they do that back where you come from?
(Private)
[A pause, then he adds:]
My parents were heretics.
Re: (Private)
I'm so sorry.
(Private)
[Which is... very much not all right. But really, it's just the tip of the traumaberg. Life can be kind of rough in a world where giant monsters eat people and also the government is corrupt.]
Re: (Private)
But. Okay.
If you ever need anyone to talk to...?
(Private)
[Polite, but very far from a yes.
It's not even Greg specifically (though the fact that Armin barely knows him doesn't help) rather than he just prefers not to talk about this sort of stuff too much. He's discussed it with a few people, but it is not like that has ever changed things. Talking won't bring back his parents or his grandfather. It won't undo what the government had done to them.
Besides, everybody knows that the best way to handle distressing memories is to ball them up tight in the far recesses of your mind where they can slowly fester.]
Re: (Private)
Okay.
Anyway. Yeah. Gem stuff is pretty amazing. Rose was pretty amazing too. Though it's kinda funny seeing her in regular human clothes now. Since Gems are made of solid light, they just-- have their clothing as part of them.