victory_road | Fourteenth Flake [video]

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Fourteenth Flake [video]

[It's been quite some time since Elsa made a video of her own, and back then, she wasn't really in a good state of mind. But today she seems relaxed, happy, and there's even a spark in her eye that isn't there often, with how composed she tries to keep herself.]

I happened to look at the date today, and I realized that it's now been over two years since I arrived in Johto. Time has passed so quickly! It's even more surprising, since my sister and I have been in the same city for so long now.

[Hm. Maybe she should talk to Anna about getting on the move soon...]

Ah, but that's not quite what I wanted to say to all of you. What I'd like to ask is this: is the day you arrived here a good memory for you? Do you celebrate it at all? If you do, how so?

On the opposite side of the coin... are there any of you that don't look fondly on your arrival? I know it can be incredibly traumatic, so I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

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[Armin breathes out on a soft little sound at that. That is not the answer he wanted.]

So there is nothing we can do except wait?

More or less, yes.

[She looks apologetic as she says this, but still tries to smile for him.]

But there's much to do in this world that will help keep your mind occupied. We're free to go wherever we wish, and each city is quite a sight to see, and so many different creatures to find...

[Honestly, given a bit of time to adjust, Armin will enjoy this world. Freedom, exploring... it is all he has ever wanted.

He breathes out on a soft sound.]

Sorry, I hope I didn't ruin your mood. It's just been... a lot to take in.

[Understatement of the century, that.]

[Elsa quickly shakes her head.]

Oh no, you have no need to apologize! I know how hard it is to take all this new information in. You're perfectly justified in having worries or concerns.

As fondly as I look on this place now... my first few days weren't the best either. I honestly wasn't sure if I'd be able to get through them.

[And that was even with the promise of being reunited with Anna at the end of those few days...]

[Armin nods a little.]

It's all so very different...

[The pokemon, the devices, the freedom. Every bend and turn seems to present Armin with new things he has never seen before, like lights that burn on the ceiling without evidence of a fire. It is all very fascinating, but a little hard to catch up with.]

Jean is here but it feels weird being somewhere without Mikasa and Eren. I know I can't do much to help them [Just thinky stuff and they have brighter heads for that] but I don't want them to have to deal with things back home on their own.

... I know it might not help, but time is... different in this realm. No matter how many days or weeks or months pass here, not a second passes in your home. Your friends... if anything bad happened before you left, it's not continuing.

[It might not be reassuring, but at least she can try to let him know that there's nothing going on that he could be preventing...]

[For a moment Armin's eyes widen, then his brows furrow. The question of how that is possible is on the tip of his tongue, but he swallows it. Something about her words make him think she doesn't know exactly how it works either.]

So... so if we manage to get back home, it'll be the same as when we left?

[Honestly, if that is true, that is immensely reassuring. Puzzling too, because Armin cannot see how it works, but at least that way he doesn't have to worry about Eren and Mikasa. Nor about the theory he has about Annie that he didn't think to share with anyone yet.]

Have people gone home before? And returned?

[They must have, right? How else could anyone know this?]

[There's... a brief moment of hesitation, between when he asks that and when Elsa responds. It's not like she's afraid to answer his question, but the person her mind immediately jumps to, unsurprisingly, is Asami. She hasn't thought about Asami for a while, but now that she is, all those feelings are just sort of rushing back and hitting her all at once. So she just... needs a moment.]

Yes, to both of those. I had... a very dear friend, here. [Boy is that kind of glazing over a lot.] She was from a different world than mine, so I can't be sure what exactly went on... but she disappeared for some time. She was eventually brought back here, and she was the one that was able to confirm to me that no time passes when you're gone, and things play out as if nothing ever happened to you.

Additionally, when you return home, it seems that you forget about your time here. It's only if you're ever brought back that you remember.

[Armin notes her moment of hesitation. It's not something he comments on, but nevertheless it gets filed away almost automatically. His attention to detail is one of the few things he can really offer, after all.]

So if we go back, we won't remember this place... [He's not expecting an answer, really, or even talking to her, just putting his thoughts in order.]

But do you know what would happen in a case like yours? You mentioned you've been here for two years, correct? If you were to return home, you might forget this place, but wouldn't your body have aged two additional years? Have there ever been people who have gone home and returned after a long stay in this world?

[When Armin had first arrived here, he had figured them being here was more like a run of the mill kidnapping, but more and more it's starting to sound like something really out of the realm of possible for ordinary kidnappers.]

That... I'm afraid I can't answer.

[And boy does she look guilty over that.]

I've actually asked that question before, but I don't think anyone has a concrete answer. I've spoken to a few people who have been here much longer than I have, but from what I've been able to tell, none of them have been sent home, so they don't know how any sort of aging might affect us back home.

[Armin hadn't wanted to make her feel guilty!]

Ah, no, it's my fault for asking something so difficult to answer. You've already been very helpful, miss--

[Now it is his turn to look embarrassed.]

I'm sorry. I never even asked for your name.

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Fourteenth Flake [video]

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