[That request is especially concerning when the back of his mind can't rid himself of worrying he's too weak and a burden. It's something he strives not to be. Never wants to be-- and now he's realized that Eren and Mikasa never once saw him as one. But they had this determination to be strong for him...
It was a bag of mixed feelings, but in the end, he couldn't help but feel fond. His gaze moves back out to the desert, nodding slightly.]
Fields of sand... It's just like my parents said. [And it was so strange to be standing in it. ...But right, he'll turn back to Eren with a firm expression next. He wasn't going to run off first if it would cause problems. He wasn't that stupid.] I'll follow you.
Okay. Good. [ Telling him to hold back or extending a hand when he needed help standing had never been about looking down on Armin. Sure, he rarely extended the same to Mikasa, but everything about the two different duos was separate: she'd follow him around and nag and tried to hold him behind a safety net from the world he'd loved so much. And he cared for her, unconditionally, but it frustrated him.
Armin was the one who he'd find and share stories with, shoulders bumping against each other as they'd read lines aloud and jab fingers at pictures in faded yellow books. Protecting him was always because he was important, and not because of any weakness on his part.
He reminds himself of that, finally letting a smile cross his face as he starts to walk. Their footsteps make the softest sounds, and Eren finds himself treading heavily. ]
It's a 'desert,' right? [ He speaks over his shoulder, careful not to let his attention wander too far. ] I know we're here to find some answers, but it's kinda cool.
[A desert. Once he spots Eren's smile, it's an automatic response to smile himself, the realization really sinking in as they walk. Because it actually is really cool, and as much as horrible things happened here-- wasn't this a sort of outside world? They were seeing so much together. There weren't any titans.
He knew better than to feel safe over that, but it was still a minor relief.]
It seems to go on forever, no matter which direction you look. [The sand-- the desert. This cavern. But after letting his gaze wander for a bit, he'll look to his friend once more.]
There's nothing wrong with appreciating this world while we're searching for answers. Can you see those structures in the distance? [He points ahead to guide Eren's gaze all while sticking behind him. His excitement is pretty clear.] I wonder what they're for...
[ There was a time he'd stopped talking to Armin about any of this, played it off as being young and capricious and disinterested. But while he was constantly reminding himself that this wasn't home and it shouldn't count... there was still something warm about seeing a world without Titans, together.
Eren's excited too, though his wonder is more subdued. Too many other things on his mind to fully lose himself to it (though a small smile lingers at the corners of his mouth). ] Yeah— kinda reminds me of the ocean. I wonder if they meet in the middle of the world or something.
[ It doesn't, obviously, but he doesn't mind thinking aloud around Armin. And even though he's got one hilt connected to a blade, hand wrapped around it and ready to fight at any give moment, he manages to match his friend's curiosity. ]
Though I don't see why they'd make their buildings triangular... [ Eren tilts his head slightly, squinting into the horizon. ] Couldn't they just— [ he reaches out, pinching two of the buildings together between his fingers ] use the resources to build a regular one?
[Watching Eren pretend to squash the pyramids widens Armin's smile the slightest. The ocean. That had been another huge wonder. Imagining them meeting was too crazy to believe--! But how were they able to know?]
There could be plenty of reasons for the shape they chose. It's hard to say without knowing their purpose, but from stability, weather, and symbolism... I'm sure it was for a reason. [A reason he clearly finds fascinating, if his tone is anything to go by. There's a warm sort of glowing feeling in his chest coming from this conversation. One he hadn't properly felt since childhood. Since before everything went wrong.]
Should we see if we can get inside one? It could be dangerous, but it doesn't look like there's much else to look into around here.
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It was a bag of mixed feelings, but in the end, he couldn't help but feel fond. His gaze moves back out to the desert, nodding slightly.]
Fields of sand... It's just like my parents said. [And it was so strange to be standing in it. ...But right, he'll turn back to Eren with a firm expression next. He wasn't going to run off first if it would cause problems. He wasn't that stupid.] I'll follow you.
no subject
Armin was the one who he'd find and share stories with, shoulders bumping against each other as they'd read lines aloud and jab fingers at pictures in faded yellow books. Protecting him was always because he was important, and not because of any weakness on his part.
He reminds himself of that, finally letting a smile cross his face as he starts to walk. Their footsteps make the softest sounds, and Eren finds himself treading heavily. ]
It's a 'desert,' right? [ He speaks over his shoulder, careful not to let his attention wander too far. ] I know we're here to find some answers, but it's kinda cool.
no subject
[A desert. Once he spots Eren's smile, it's an automatic response to smile himself, the realization really sinking in as they walk. Because it actually is really cool, and as much as horrible things happened here-- wasn't this a sort of outside world? They were seeing so much together. There weren't any titans.
He knew better than to feel safe over that, but it was still a minor relief.]
It seems to go on forever, no matter which direction you look. [The sand-- the desert. This cavern. But after letting his gaze wander for a bit, he'll look to his friend once more.]
There's nothing wrong with appreciating this world while we're searching for answers. Can you see those structures in the distance? [He points ahead to guide Eren's gaze all while sticking behind him. His excitement is pretty clear.] I wonder what they're for...
no subject
Eren's excited too, though his wonder is more subdued. Too many other things on his mind to fully lose himself to it (though a small smile lingers at the corners of his mouth). ] Yeah— kinda reminds me of the ocean. I wonder if they meet in the middle of the world or something.
[ It doesn't, obviously, but he doesn't mind thinking aloud around Armin. And even though he's got one hilt connected to a blade, hand wrapped around it and ready to fight at any give moment, he manages to match his friend's curiosity. ]
Though I don't see why they'd make their buildings triangular... [ Eren tilts his head slightly, squinting into the horizon. ] Couldn't they just— [ he reaches out, pinching two of the buildings together between his fingers ] use the resources to build a regular one?
no subject
There could be plenty of reasons for the shape they chose. It's hard to say without knowing their purpose, but from stability, weather, and symbolism... I'm sure it was for a reason. [A reason he clearly finds fascinating, if his tone is anything to go by. There's a warm sort of glowing feeling in his chest coming from this conversation. One he hadn't properly felt since childhood. Since before everything went wrong.]
Should we see if we can get inside one? It could be dangerous, but it doesn't look like there's much else to look into around here.