victory_road | [closed] I scream, you scream, we all scream. It's trauma. We are traumatised.

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[closed] I scream, you scream, we all scream. It's trauma. We are traumatised.

Who: Armin and Mikasa
Where: Sevii Islands
When: At some nebulous point in time after bringing Mikasa home to the islands.
Summary: Armin introducing Mikasa to the magic of ice cream
Rating: rated for those with lactose and cute intolerance
Log:

Things have been a bit of a rollercoaster for Armin lately. First there was that water temple with its puzzles and explorations which had finally cumulated not just in him being able to witness the hatching of a legendary sea pokemon --if his eyes had been slightly watery during said event, it was definitely cause of the salty sea air. Totally-- but also, just before that, the reveal of another group of miscreants. They hadn't been that hard to defeat, but they had all avoided capture which created a sense of unease in Armin. When would they strike next? What were their goals and what would their next target be?

Many questions, few answers.

And maybe there could've been more answers, but he has to admit, Mikasa arrival has been keeping him a bit too occupied to think much about this mysterious cult. Having her here is... it's great. Even if it isn't quite the Mikasa he remembers, it's Mikasa nonetheless.

And there is so much he wants to show her and introduce her to; so much to teach and explain and for her to experience. He's been trying very hard not to make the whole experience too overwhelming as it had been for him when he had first arrived here --and he had been sixteen! Not ten like Mikasa-- carefully meting out new information and encounters. Which definitely also includes being careful with what new foods to introduce her to.

(Listen, he remembers his first month here and just how much of it had been spent with stomachaches or too frequent bathroom visits as his digestive system had struggled to adjust to the richness of the food here. It's not something he wants for Mikasa!)

But, today he figures she is ready to experience one of the things he's been especially eager to introduce to her: ice cream. Which is why they've come to Island four --just a short trip on the back of one of his Wailords, which had been another thing he had been eager to introduce Mikasa to-- to come visit that same ice cream parlour he had had his first date with Angel at. They are still outside currently, but ready to go in, though not before Armin can remind Mikasa of one last thing:

"Remember, you can get whatever you want, okay? You don't have to worry about how much anything costs. I've got it."

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Food was an awkward subject. Mikasa was far from picky, even the food she didn't like would get eaten(beans, she hated them so). Though she wasn't adventurous. No matter what Armin offered, she'd go for something she recognized first. Even then the flavors were stronger.

The ride on the Wailord wasn't much of a surprise. She'd seen enough people riding pokemon to be used to the idea, even if she stayed firmly in the center. Not going anywhere near the edge and falling off, nope.

Though she still wasn't sure what they were doing, Mikasa constantly looked around. At the buildings, the signs. It answered nothing, she could read the words but together they didn't make sense. So she just followed Armin's lead. Giving him a little nod.

"Okay..." Such enthusiasm. But she went in, blinking at all the colours and just...standing there. Not too sure what to do. What was she getting?

Luckily, Armin is pretty used to Mikasa's understated brand of enthusiasm. That had never changed. And it's fine. More often than not, he likes to think he can tell what Mikasa likes or not, even if she doesn't get loud and over the top like Eren does. It's just paying attention to more subtle clues, and Armin can do that.

He has a hand against her shoulder as he ushers her into the little ice cream parlour. The place is... very cute looking. There is simply no other way to describe it. Cute little chairs set around equally cute, pastel-coloured tables, a decor that looks like it has been the same for about thirty years and has gone from being outdated to adorably retro along the way, and a wide-hipped, broad-armed middle-aged woman standing behind a display case of seemingly countless of ice cream flavours ready to serve whoever comes up to her till.

"You can pick any flavour you want from all of these." Armin gestures at the various bins of ice cream through the glass case. "Their names are on the little cards, see?"

She was just happy to be there. Observing.

Except now she wasn't just observing, she was being asked things. Mikasa wasn't even sure what to look at. There was so many colours, but at least Armin gave her some direction. She peered into the glass, though none of these things looked like food to her... They were just so colourful. She'd never seen blue food before.

Then she spotted it. The favourite... Almost.

"Raisin, please." And she pointed to one in the back. Tragically it was not raisin bread, her fav, but instead it was rum and raisin. Tragic.

Armin is about to order a scoop of whatever Mikasa is pointing at for her until he spots the name, and yeah, lets not do that. And knowing Mikasa, he doubts she even realised just what she asked for.

"Ah, you probably won't want that one. It's got alcohol in it. Like the stuff Mr Hannes used-- drinks but stronger."

Right. Mr Hannes hasn't stopped drinking yet. Because he hasn't had to deal with the hell that was That Day.

That just made her look at him for a moment, her head falling. That was about the most crestfallen she'd been since arriving. Disappointed, as she went back to scanning the cards. There was a lot of fruit ones.

"...Summer fruits?" It was accompanied with a head tilt as she looked up at him, was that one okay? She couldn't pick just one fruit and if she couldn't have rasin...

Armin sees the slightly crestfallen look and makes an immediate mental note to put raisins in every form on the shopping list. Just... those little cartons of raisins, raisin cookies, raisin bread -- if it's got raisins in it, he's going to get it and let Mikasa pick her favourite, cause damnit, she deserves it.

"Summer fruits is good. It's really nice and sweet." And no alcohol, which was really the key thing here. "How about I get a different flavour from you, and you can try some of mine too?"

Raisin bread and fruit cake are love... Even if none tasted as nice as mother's. But maybe she just had a soft spot for preserved fruits from collecting her own. But this strange ice cream stuff had some in. Something familiar in all the strange.

His response gets a nod and she stands a little straighter.

"You can have some of mine." They share.

"Thank you."

It's not necessary. Armin has already tasted most of these flavours with Angel, but part of him feels that Mikasa might feel weirder about this whole thing if she wasn't also sharing her ice cream with him.

For a moment, Armin just studies the case in front of him, trying to pick the best flavour. Nothing too strong, because he also wants Mikasa to enjoy it. For a moment he considers another fruity flavour, something familiar like strawberries maybe, until his eyes fall on--

"If you are getting the summer fruits one, then I'll get a chocolate chip ice cream."

The perfect way to introduce Mikasa to chocolate, right? A full scoop of chocolate might be a little too overwhelming as a taste, but the vanilla should make a nice and pleasant base for the bits of chocolate.

"I think you'll really like this one too," he says as he signals the woman behind the counter for their ice creams.

Maybe it wasn't necessary but she'd do it anyway. Because they were friends, and friends shared. Though for now she waited for lady to serve. Intently watching, looking at how it kept it's shape when she scooped some out.

??? It wasn't a soup? Was it a cake?

She had no idea nor did she have any idea what chocolate chip was. Tiptoeing to try and get a better look. Her curiosity has been peaked.

"Is it nice?"

Edited (DW what the fuck) 2021-09-25 21:22 (UTC)

"Really nice." Armin'd describe the taste to her but-- "It is like nothing you'll have ever tasted back home."

The woman behind the counter quickly fixes up the two ordered ice creams, and once Armin has paid, he lifts them out of the little holder, holding out the reddish-pink summer fruits cone to Mikasa.

"Careful. Don't eat too much at once or you'll get a headache."

It was already a lot to take in. For now she just slowly took the cone, cupping it with both hands. Armin got a little nod, then she turned her attention the ice cream. Staring at it. Like it was a puzzle to solve, it was all very serious.

...Then she took a bit.

...In hindsight, this was a mistake. But she thought Armin just meant not to scoff it, not that normal bits would be too much. But alas...

Her cheeks puffed but she didn't spit it out. Just her reddening cheeks puffing as her eyes widened. Wha- WHat??? There's no headache, she just had a mouthful of cold sweetness that she wasn't sure what to do with.

No thoughts, only stillness.

Oh no. Oh no, oh no. Mikasa has turned into an ice cream squirrel.

Armin bites down on his tongue hard so he won't laugh --don't sue him, please, but her face is very funny-- as he quickly guides her to one of the little tables, plucking up a bunch of the napkins.

"You can swallow it. Or it's fine to spit it out. I should've told you're supposed to lick these."

He tucks the napkins into her hand, leaving her to make the decision.

?? Shoulders hunching, taking defensive stance her neck withdrawing into her scarf. Wuh?

Mikasa gave a little gurgle. It did taste...nice? Very sweet but she brought the napkin up. Though she didn't spit it out, she just spluttered and dribbled a little. Trying to get some warm air, trying to regain the feeling in her mouth.

Eventually, she managed to swallow her chunk of ice cream. Licking her lips as she tried to catch the mess with the napkin.

"...I-it's cold." Quietly as she shivered.

"It is," he confirms. "It's actually made of frozen milk. It's best to eat it kind of slowly. And really savour the flavour. Like this."

Here, he'll demonstrate licking his own ice cream.

"It's the perfect thing to eat during a hot summer. Though I guess that time of year is already over."

Not that it is exactly cold on the islands, but far from the same as during the middle of summer, when really, sometimes the only way you can cool down is by taking a nice dip in the ocean.

She gave a little hum, then a funny splutter as she regained her mouth. Then she hesitated for a moment, before trying the ice cream again. She trusted Armin, but that had not been a fun time.

He was getting the apprehensive side-eye. Then slowly she leaned in again, barely giving the ice cream a lick...

Then another...

... Then she turned, looking up at him. Almost smiling, almost. "It's sweet." And back to the ice cream.

"It is, isn't it?"

Armin is smiling wide enough for the both of them. He knows Mikasa isn't exactly the most expressive child, so the almost-smile is enough for him. She keeps eating it, doesn't she? Meaning she is enjoying it.

And isn't that what she deserves? To enjoy life without knowing what is coming for her? Without every having to go through more trauma? Armin doesn't know if he can make that happen for her. He doesn't control who goes back to their own worlds and who doesn't, but the least he can do is make sure she'll experience nothing but good things while she is here.

To be honest it, it was a very awkward smile. Her lips pressing together as the corners lifted, like she'd forgotten how to move her face for it. But she'd tried.

...Even if she was currently making a mess. Most of the ice cream was being eaten, but there was a good amount on her cheeks and chin. Just monching away at it, little by little. Then she paused, lifting it up. Offering the cone to Armin. What are germs? She doesn't know.

But she said she'd share.

For a moment, Armin feels the strange impulse to lick his thumb and scrub the ice cream off her face, which is a little strange. When had he turned into Carla? Was this his true destiny?

Thankfully, before he ends up having to question everything about himself, Mikasa holds out her ice cream and he obediently leans in to lick it.

"Thank you. Here, taste some of mine too."

He holds out his own cone for Mikasa to taste. Or add more ice cream to her face. Either of those.

Mikasa was happily oblivious to his deep thoughts. She was more interested in trying the other ice cream, what did those colours mean? She had a taste. Paused.
Frowned up at him.

"It's sweeter?" Then she tilted her head. Not sure what to make of something being sweeter than berries. She didn't know that was possible.

"There are a lot of really sweet things in this world. I think some of it is too sweet, but a lot of people seem to like it."

Though, at least it isn't as bad as how spicy some food can be here. Armin has gotten a bit better at handling it in the years he's been here, but there is still a lot of stuff that makes him go completely red in the face and feel like he's dying.

"Want another taste?"

The day Mikasa encounters spicy food, she will die. But for today she is safe.

"It's nice..." Not as nice as fruit cake, but it came close. Mikasa just kept glancing between Armin and the two ice creams. Frowning and confused.

"How can it be too sweet?" Sweeter than this?? How?

"Food in this world is really different from the food we have back home. You've got some things that are the same like strawberries, but there's also a lot of--" He pauses for a moment, trying to find the best way to put it. "There is food here that doesn't even exist where we are from. And food is really cheap here, so everybody can get what they want.

You know how salt is really expensive back home? Here they just give it away from free! Restaurants just put little shakers of it on the tables and everybody can get as much as they want. It's the same for sugar."

"For free..." It was Armin, but even then Mikasa had to doubt. Her head tilting as peered at him. Trying to spot the joke. Because that couldn't be possible, could it? Food being cheap.

Though she had managed to feed herself for that week she'd been alone. So eventually she stared up at him again, still frowning and covered in ice cream.

"Why is it easier here?" The people were so nice... Terrifying.

Heeding some mothering instinct deep inside of him, Armin plucks some napkins off the table to wipe at her face, though her question makes him freeze.

Why indeed?

Armin has some answer -- or theories, at the very least. Somewhat harsh ones about the state of their world, but then again, it wasn't as if Mikasa hadn't seen how cruel their world could be. She might not know exactly what is going to happen to them in the future, but she'd seen the darkness already.

"There are no titans or walls here. People can live freely, go wherever they want. They can put farms everywhere and have enough food that way. People who don't go hungry find it easy to be giving."

It's easy to share your food when it isn't the last thing standing between you and your kids and starvation.

If their world hadn't been so harsh, she wouldn't have thought to ask. The peace wouldn't have stood out. Logically, she could think of reasons why. But it was just so new. Everything Armin said made sense but she could only stare, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Does that mean home could be like that one day?"

If Eren got his wish and the titans were all killed. Though Mikasa doubted that was possible. "What if something happened here?" Like the pokemon started eating people.

"Maybe. It's hard to say."

And then he immediately rushes to answer her other question, hoping he can draw her attention to that subject rather than their own world. After all, the more she asks about their world, the bigger the chance he might actually have to lie to her. Up until this point, he hasn't actually lied yet, just withheld what he knew about her future, though he recognises that was also rather morally questionable. But with more questions coming?

No, better to direct her attention to this world.

"Well, that has actually happened here. This world looks really peaceful and it is for the most part, but while I've been here, we've also had to deal with things going wrong on occasion. No world is perfect, after all, no matter how much it might seem so on first glance.

But, each time something went wrong here, we all got together and made sure things didn't get out of control."

He was lucky. Had there not been so much about this world to learn, she didn't catch how quickly he pressed on. Her worry beating her curiosity back. Mikasa frowned, reaching to grab him with her free hand.

"Were you okay?" So serious. It might have been a while back and she'd not been here, but she still wanted to know he was fine. That nothing happened to him.

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[closed] I scream, you scream, we all scream. It's trauma. We are traumatised.

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