wing_attack | |6| [Video]

[He can do this. Who cares if people think he's weird for this? He has people who don't think that, too. He turns on the video and smiles a tiny bit, before speaking.]

So I'm just wondering... a couple of things, really. First of all, how many people are here who are under the age of twenty? It feels like that's a lot of people here - more than you'd usually see in any kind of population. Has anyone tracked that kind of stuff?

And second...

[Here we go.]

How many people had what people might call... powers or abilities or magic at home? Like, stuff that most people can't do but you can do? I'm not counting if you come from some kind of world where magic is common, but where it's rare and people would stare at you for doing it, that's what I mean.

[... He's kind of run out of steam.]

Th... that's what I was wondering. Let me know. I'm not trying to like... track people down or something. I'm just curious.

[He flicks the video off and goes to get a drink of water. That was kind of scary.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, in this world, most... — ah, native? Trainers begin as children. It's possible the mechanism responsible for our arrival factors age for that reason. ( beat. ) Happy, um, late birthday.

Maybe.

[- oh.]

Uh... thanks. I'm Tobias, by the way.

Armin Arlert. Have you been here longer than a few months? I just arrived.

I've been here since... August? So about four months.

( that sounds too long... don't get impatient, arlert. )

You must know a lot of people, right? If you don't mind... What's the longest you've known someone to be in this place?

Hm... I think I've heard of people being here for... years. It's not really a topic that comes up all the time.

( nodding, ) Someone told me he's been here for three years. Do you think a few months is typical, then?

I think so? I don't know, I'm traveling with someone who showed up around the same time as I did. But I think after a while it kind of stops mattering.

— ah. ( smile, small and strained. ) That's probably true. From what I understand... We can't change our place in this world. But it's hard not to think about. But it's good to have someone to share it with.

Yeah, I understand. And I think for a lot of people this place is a lot less stressful. Sure, there's more mouths to feed, but you don't have to fight if you don't want to, there's places to explore, and a lot of really friendly people to talk to.

Do you have to fight in your world?

Yeah. I do. It's... it's really hard sometimes.

Sorry. ( for...? armin isn't certain he knows. he doesn't offer more than that. ) I guess it's good you're here.

It's... okay. Someone has to fight.

... Yeah, it is, though. I wish my friends were here too.

You don't know. I've found a few — ( friends? no. comrades? bertolt is a traitor. ) People from my world.

As far as I've seen, they're not here. And I think I would have heard from them by now...

[Not including that weird weekend.]

Mm, that's true. But in the future, who knows?

Exactly. And when they do show up, I'll have new friends to introduce them to and I'll be able to help them adjust.

( a beat. then, armin smiles. small again but there, still. )

I hope your friends show up. They'd be lucky.

I hope yours do too.

[Since it... sounds like he doesn't really get along with the people from his world, based on his earlier comment.]

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