hopeful hearts are moving targets [open]

[blondtactician]

WHO: Armin Arlert and YOU.
WHERE: All over Heropa.
WHEN: 7/1 - 7/7 or so
WHAT: this loser going places doing things talking to people
WARNINGS: possible discussion of canon/spoilers, descriptions of anxiety/PTSD

7/1 - Tuesday Afternoon at the Library - Closed to Skye

[Armin doesn't know much about computers, and there's a lot to know. He has the basics down, at least, and can use google and Wikipedia like a seasoned pro. He even surfs all the messages from imPorts on his free time, attempting to learn more. But he could hardly be called an expert, especially considering most kids his age have grown up using it.

The woman set up her laptop and was using the Wi-Fi and technically it's against policy to bother people about that, even if they're vagrants just hoping to have a wank by streaming porn. Right to privacy laws are pretty restrictive. Still, Armin can't help but wonder what she's up to - glancing at a screen full of numbers that didn't seem like anything most people got up to here.

Couple that with the numerous complaints from other patrons that the bandwidth was all being used and he found himself wondering.

On his break, Armin sits himself down next to Skye, and says,] Hey. I won't kick you out of here for doing that if you'll show me how.


7/2 - Wednesday Afternoon at the Library - closed to Sansa

[Armin recognizes the red-haired girl from seeing her around on the network. At the time she'd been dressed as a noblewoman. Armin's own dislike for monarchy had made him hesitant to help her, even though, he assumed, she was probably as confused by this place as he'd been at first. After skimming those messages, he'd determine she wasn't in need of his help, as many imPorts offered her insights. He'd been struck at the time by how collected and capable she seemed, but promptly put it out of his mind. Armin had plenty of other things to worry about that month.

Still, she seems to be looking around, and Armin is an assistant to the librarians here. He approaches her and offers a polite smile.] Is there something you're looking for, miss?



7/3 - Thursday evening at the Mall - closed to Kotetsu

[It's just an ordinary day at a local shopping mall. Armin tries to avoid the crowds when he can, but he couldn't resist a rather impressive sale on skin care products he'd wanted to try. Plus, it would be better to get all of this sort of thing out of the way before the weekend and holiday hit, something he's very much not looking forward to. It still strikes him as ironic that anything involving a war or conflict would be celebrated by what sounded like artillery rounds, but there are some things Armin's made peace with not understanding.

He's in a fairly good mood as he heads out the door, when a loud, bright explosion of noise sounds off in the entryway he's headed out. Without a second thought, Armin hits the deck, diving behind a potted plant as some young men about his age set off a chain of firecrackers.

The smell of fire and gunpowder. A loud commotion, and people frightened. It's only for a few moments - and the boys are quickly chased out of the mall for their dangerous disruption - but Armin can't bring himself down from the spurt of adrenalin that's surged through him.

He's sick to his stomach, afraid, and can't think straight. He's shaking too badly even to get out his cell phone and call someone for help, so he just sits there, his hands over his ears. He dropped his bag, too, one of its bottles rolling slowly away.]


Saturday morning on the Bus - 7/5 - OPEN to the first reply

[It's early morning and already starting to get hot. Armin is reading a huge hardback volume he has to rest gently on the seat in front of him, his ears covered by headphones blasting something loud and guitar-heavy. He's perfectly contented in his own little world until the bus lurches to a stop, and a team of police officers swarm the bus, hauling off a screaming suspect in hand cuffs. A scene plays out on the side of the road as he struggles.

Armin glances to his cell phone for the time. It's too far for him to get to work on his own at this rate. Nothing left to do but hope things are resolved quickly. He pulls off his headphones, trying to hear what's going on a little better.]

What is going on....


Sunday - 7/5 - OTA

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!


Monday Afternoon at an Indian Restaurant - 7/6 - CLOSED to Jean

[There's something about buffets that always both awe and depress Armin a little bit. So much food, freely available for cheap, and all of it delicious. It would be easy to eat oneself sick. But seeing the locals waddle over to the ice cream machine for yet another cup of vanilla mango swirl can put a damper on one's appetite. Still, Armin enjoys this place, happily situated between both the library and Jean's place of employment. Much of the cuisine from the continent of Asia avoid dairy, a boon for Armin's delicate stomach.

He's happy to see Jean - technically, he ambushed the guy and insisted on taking him to lunch - even if he's still getting used to spending time with his friends in these sort of contexts. There's something about the electric lights, the tinny, ever-present music that makes it all seem surreal. Armin sops up some curry with a corner of naan, glancing up at his friend.]

So. What have you been up to?

Comments

[blondtactician]

Um, maybe? You know who I am?

[Armin blinks. Wait, if she's good with computers, that sort of thing shouldn't be much of a challenge for her, right?]

I'm sorry if that's an inconvenience. I've been living with other people from my world, since I was having trouble adjusting when I first came here.

[He's not convinced she was simply playing a game, anyway, but he can't prove that for the time being. At least if she thinks she might've gotten caught at misbehaving, she might not do it again?]

[hackitude]

[Skye's expression softens a little, at that. She's moved houses and families so many times that she no longer has trouble adjusting anywhere-- most new things roll right off her back. But that wasn't always the case.]

... A little. I admit, I looked you up 'cause I wanted to know who our mysterious no-show housemate was. Your name's Armin, right? ... I'm Skye. And it's no inconvenience. Are you still having trouble?

[blondtactician]

Nice to meet you, Miss Skye. [Armin offers a pleasant smile, being deferential to her because she is older and in spite of their almost-roommate status, they are strangers.]

I'm doing alright. This job has been helpful - having unlimited access to books is a very new concept to me. It's too bad I can't get paid to memorize the entire nonfiction section. I'm still trying to get the hang of computers and telephones though.

[hackitude]

Wait-- what. You don't have access to books where you're from? [Skye looks appropriately horrified.]

That's barbaric.

[blondtactician]

Not like here, no. Certain subjects are outright banned, and to possess books about them is unlawful heresy. I've never been a fan of the law, personally.

[Armin shrugs. It's an opinion people have attempted to beat out of him repeatedly, but he doesn't like to tell those tales to people who wouldn't understand what his world is like.]

Libraries, the internet... People here don't understand the value of it. [This is said with reverence verging on spiritual sentiment.]

[hackitude]

[Skye mirrors his shrug.]

The law... like anything else, it can be a force for good or for evil. A world without it would be pretty chaotic. I'm a fan of peace in my community, generally. That said... censorship definitely falls under the category of "using the law for evil." Every government does it, to a certain extent-- just some more than others. This place. My government back home. ... Guess yours is "more than others."

[blondtactician]

Oh, I meant that particular law is one I don't like! [Yet Armin's laughter might just be the tiniest bit forced.] I'm part of the military in my world, it's my job to uphold order and protect civilians.

Evil is not a word I'd use. Inhumane, unwise, even cruel, but not evil. I don't believe in evil.

[hackitude]

[Skye tilts her head for a moment, thinking about that.]

... Fair enough. [Skye isn't quite sure she agrees-- she's pretty certain that "evil" is the exact word she'd apply to people like Hitler and Red Skull without a moment's pause. But she doesn't want to get into a philosophical debate about good and evil right now, especially when it's not particularly important to her, so she lets it lie.]

So-- military, huh. Are you from the same world as Connie and Reiner, by any chance?

[It's a guess, but an educated one. Both of them are in some kind of child army, and both of them are unfamiliar with technology. It would make sense.]

[blondtactician]

Yes. We trained and graduated training together. They're my friends.

[The way Armin says that without a single physical tell that he's lying is why he has trouble believing in evil. Liars are evil, right? But he's living this lie with the hope of gaining useful information. He's being dishonest for the right reasons. It's necessary.

Being two-faced is just part of war, even if it's the fragment of a war from another world.]

They're both good soldiers, better than me. Actually, I'm the only one from our class who didn't graduate in the top 10.

[hackitude]

[Skye's still stuck on the whole child soldiers part, but she's been over it with Connie enough times that she doesn't feel the need to bring it up with Armin all over again. Still, she's never not going to be bothered by it, even if it doesn't show on her face.]

Yeah? Well... it's good you guys have each other. I mean, everyone here's pretty friendly so it's not like it's hard to make new friends, but... sometimes you need something familiar.

How're you going with the level of tech here? Managing? I'm under the impression it's pretty different from what you're used to...

[blondtactician]

Yes, we didn't have computers or telephones. Or electricity. Or an abundance of food. Or the ocean.

[Armin trails off awkwardly.] I think I'm doing alright. I can use a computer enough to look at wikipedia, and buy music and books, and use the library database.

But I know I have a lot to learn.

1/2

[hackitude]

[She lets out a small chuckle at that.]

Hey, that's pretty good. Doing better than your contemporaries at least, sounds like. No wonder you're working in the library.

[hackitude]

[But then she really processes what Armin said, and a look of total confusion passes over her.]

... Wait. How can you not have the ocean? That's like-- impossible. Planets can't exist without bodies of water.

[blondtactician]

The ocean exists. [Armin nods with certainty.] Humanity is isolated to a very small, walled area. Knowledge of the outside world has been suppressed so that most people are not aware of oceans, deserts, mountain ranges... but accounts do exist.

To be honest, we never thought about if we're on a planet, or anything like that.

[hackitude]

... Oh. Well. I guess that's... fair enough. No wonder you're loving the library, then.

[blondtactician]

Yes! Having this much free access to information is breathtaking. [Armin says thus with 100% sincerity.] But, considering how the schools restrict some information and skew it to try and influence people my age... I have to wonder about what else is still hidden.

[hackitude]

Oh. That's nothing new. That's been going on since the idea of government first took root in someone's mind like five thousand years ago. Young people are a country's greatest resource! Gotta brainwash them to love their country early, y'know?

[blondtactician]

I guess that's the same wherever you go. [Armin nods in agreement.] But they're doing themselves a disservice if they think young people aren't aware of it.

[hackitude]

Some are, sure. Some will buy into it, though. Even if it's only a few, that's enough. And the longer it goes on, the more it'll happen.

[blondtactician]

[Armin takes a long look at the woman, taking some mental notes of her appearance.] I have to admit, that's something that concerns me. People going along with what they're told without examining the source.

[hackitude]

You mean like, seventy percent of the population, right?

Okay, I just pulled that number out of thin air. And it probably changes depending on what state you're in. I mean, Texas is probably way higher. [She grins, even though she knows the boy won't get the joke.]

The imPort community here actually has an uncommonly high percentage of intelligent life, compared with the rest of the US.

[blondtactician]

We're also more equipped with the sort of skills necessary to be the so-called Heroes they want us to be. From what they've told us, this is just a coincidence.

[The key point being 'from what they've told us'.]

[hackitude]

Pffffffffffffffffffffftttttttttt yeah right.

I work for the government back home, and I still have a healthy distrust for them. They're probably keeping information even from their own people. Reap the benefits of working with them? Sure. But I wouldn't trust 'em further than I could throw 'em.

[blondtactician]

[Now this he finds interesting. Armin lowers his voice.] Have you no concern for the consequences, should someone overhear you say such things? Especially since you work for them?

[hackitude]

Oh-- no, I don't work for them here. Are you nuts? Just back home.