Event #7: Knocking on the 4th Wall (Inside the Metaverse)

[seasonsmods]

Knocking on the 4th Wall
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION

Prelude (Pre 4th Wall)

On March 14th, everyone received a message. The Research Center is ready to try another test to find ways to beat the Darkness. This time the test is not done with the robots that were previously used, but instead everyone who volunteers will be participating in a virtual reality simulator. They're asked to come over to the Center on March 15th.

The researchers will explain that the purpose of this simulation is to see how several fully powered power holders fair against the Darkness. They have gathered enough data on it and the dark energy in general to determine the effects it will have on nature, monsters and wildlife if the barrier is taken off. This is the only safe way to actually test their theories.

After all the necessary explanations, everyone is asked to log in to the metaverse. Anyone logging in may notice that there are a lot of glitches as they enter.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, anyone looking at any kind of a screen (their own device, television, a digital advertisement, etc.) will have their mind sucked into the metaverse, due to the virus residing in the program. Their bodies will be left in a sleep-like state wherever they may be.

Wrong Turn at Albuquerque

The Research Center staff intended for all otherworlders to start near the Research Center so they could get used to the metaverse in peace. There are no natives in the simulator, so testing out powers around the city would have been safe as well. However, because of the glitch, people can appear anywhere, either in the city or anywhere on the segments (save from the one closed off location).

Sometimes the scenery and items in the world glitch a little bit, reminding anyone that this is the metaverse. Except the glitches weren't meant to happen. Luckily they're all mostly aesthetical, but some items may work differently than they should. You have a spoon? It actually works like a fork.

Luckily, this doesn't mean they will be without any items. They can open a menu with the device on their wrist that lets them get anything at all from Riki's Rewards during the simulator without any cost. They can think of this as special opportunity to test out all kinds of items before buying them, as they work exactly the same as they would in normal space.

For some reason, the Shady Shop also appears in the menu. That was not anyone's intention as the items are, well, shady.

Other than the two shops there are basic potion and magical item menus that people can use where needed. Even vehicles, such as airships can be summoned through the menus for easier traveling in the segments.

Some might find the glitches concerning and wish to return and tell the researches about them. The problem with that is is that clicking "Log Off" won't do anything at all, even if it's supposed to boot someone out of the metaverse. But that's not the end of the strange things going on.


You're in the Metaverse Now

Along with the otherworlders that were participating in the test, others start to join in as well due to unforeseen circumstances. Luckily, they have the same "settings" as everyone else, so they're not completely without aid wherever they end up in. They also have all of their powers unlocked for the duration of their stay in the metaverse (including all animal transformations).

As part of the strange glitch going on everyone also has access to any powers from previous worlds, if they have experienced other places before. It would seem the powers can also be shared through the item inventory, should anyone want to temporary use another world's abilities. This is possible with even a person's native powers.

And as if that wasn't enough, people who weren't on Ellipsa start appearing as well. Anyone who doesn't currently have a body on Ellipsa has a mark somewhere on their body, signaling that they're just data. This mark is somehow related to the characters that has it and emits a faint light.

All of the people who are just visiting will also be able to enjoy the metaverse the same way as anyone else. They have been sorted into a Seasons and have access to full powers - and the same item inventory. All that's different from the others is that they have no physical body to return to in this world.


Communication is the key

During the metaverse adventures, people are able to communicate through their devices, but the messages will not go out to the "normal" network. So the messages are only between those in the metaverse, but at least the network works the same way as it would in the "normal world".

Happy communicating.

It's Getting Dark, Too Dark to See

The goal of the metaverse is to have a safe environment to test powers against the Darkness. All of the barriers have been taken out, except for the one surrounding the city of Nightwake. The city acts as a safe haven to anyone who needs a break or doesn't want to fight.

Everyone is encouraged to go to where the barriers used to be and use their full, unlocked powers against everything and anything the darkness throws at them to see how well they can fight against it.

Thanks to all powers being unlocked, destroying enemies powered up by the Darkness is a lot easier, but pushing back the approaching darkness still needs something more than just raw power. Though with enough power holders of different seasons working together and crossing the different seasonal element streams fusing together different elements from each season in a single attack, it's possible to halt the advance, much like a barrier would, for 24 hours.

Due to the barriers being off, all creatures are stronger due to the Darkness's influence. Even creatures that normally have no danger level can now at least do Dark damage. Some Slime especially may seek vengeance.

Unfortunately, due to the weird glitch in the system, everyone inside the metaverse is able to feel pain when they originally weren't supposed to, to make the experience safe. It feels very real, and there's a chance any non-lethal wounds will appear on the person's real body.

Effects of "The Darkness"

The Darkness is slowly expanding from all sides. Very slowly, at a snail's pace. Everything it touches turns into black sand, before transforming into something different. Some may even recognize the things that rise from the sand, as they're monsters, fauna or people from their own world, made into more twisted forms. They may even be creatures from a popular media from back home... or at least, someone's home (players').

If a Power Holder walks into the Darkness, they won't immediately turn into anything. Instead the transformation is slow and painful. Leaving the area will stop the transformation, but any damage already done remains. If the person changes completely, they might lose their sense of self completely and attack anything in their sights.

What they turn into depends on the individual (player's choice) and the only way to reverse the changes is to die. Luckily that isn't permanent even in the metaverse. The person just gets booted out, but can re-enter anytime they want to (or in this case; is forced to). This was told to anyone before entering the program, so they could go all out and test limits as much as they want.

Wait... Did I Save?

A screen appears either when someone dies or gets forcefully booted out of the metaverse. It has two options: Remember or Forget.

Clicking "Remember" will automatically save everything that happened into a person's memory and proceed to boot them out. Clicking "Forget" will lead the person to a series of "Are you Sure" pop up windows. As the very last resort, the window suggests an option to only partially forget events that transpired in the metaverse. Choosing to still forget everything will make the person wake up from a long, dreamless sleep. The memories erased cannot be found later on, as they have been completely erased from their metaverse-selves. Even someone telling them what happened won't sound familiar.

This option is also available for any visitors during the time they're visiting. Whenever they die they get booted out and can be immediately returned to the metaverse (by the power of players) with or without their memories, depending on what they chose.

Of course, anyone can then tell the person about the very crazy stunts they made the last time they were in the metaverse. They could be complete lies, but they wouldn't have any solid proof, other than "I would never do that".

Time to Say Goodbye

Finally, on March 31st, a message comes from the outside. It's telling everyone stuck in the metaverse that they can finally leave out of their own will and stay out this time. People can then choose to leave immediately be pressing by pressing the "Log Off" button on their screen or take a moment to say goodbye to the temporary visitors of the metaverse.

The screen asking if someone wants to "Remember" or "Forget" appears, once again. This time the Forget option is even more insistent on asking if the person is sure about their choice, especially since the memories that are erased can't be taken back later.

Once everyone who exists on Ellipsa has returned to their bodies, the metaverse will be shut down. All visitors have been booted out and returned to where they came.

OOC TIPS

• Ask 4th Wall related questions here. Read the 4th wall FAQ before asking them.

• You don't need to comment on the plotting post to participate & anyone can participate in the 4th wall (there's no separate invitation needed). However, if you wish to app in later, you need an invite if you're not a friend of the mods.

• This post is open to tag and top-level by everyone! Those arriving for the 4th wall can write 4TH WALL or VISITOR on their post and/or link their top level here!

• Check the Opt-in top-level if you're considering bringing in a character that already exists in the game.

• Smut is not allowed on the event post, so if your thread is heading that way, please move it to a separate entry (like to your musebox or characters' journal).

• Remember to content and spoiler warn as necessary!

• Reminder to players in the game that this month is Activity Check-in month and check-in ends on March 31th, at 23:59 PST.

code bases by tricklet

Comments

[freedomfighterhammer]

That’s fine.

[And Amy jogs a bit to catch up to him.]

But, I got ambushed by those creatures. My magic was strong, but they were a bit more stronger and one knocked me into the Darkness.

Re: 1 - City

[ikissedaboyandlikedit]

"So like, what's the end goal? We beat the dangers? Wipe out all the monsters? What are we trying to do?" Paulo asked. He wasn't smart. He didn't get all this. If it was a video game, or like one, then killing the bad things would make things better. Right?

"Is there like a final boss out there or something?"

Re: 1 - City

[shatterdriven]

"Oh I don't expect that winning is the end goal here. This is a test after all so consider it like..." He paused to think on a simple explanation as he started to wrap Paulo's arm after laying a patch of aloe over the burn. "Like a test flight in a safe zone...just if someone trapped the course when no one was looking."

Re: Research Center

[noodleboi]

"You got it. I'll message you if I find anything. I'm gonna go test myself too. Pass out info about what's going on and get people out of danger!" Mk said with a nod and smile. Confident as always, he was.

"I'll see you around. Stay safe then, okay?"

Re: 1 - City

[ikissedaboyandlikedit]

Paulo winced and made a noise as the wrap went on. God that fucking hurt. He groaned and dug his claws into the seat he was on.

"I mean...I guess I get that? Kinda. But now it's broken, we can get hurt, which means we can die. And dying is probably a really bad thing. I don't know about you but I don't wanna die in a shitty simulation thing."

[idkillforthat]

[ He really has. Kenny thinks about it. ]

Winter Segment.

[ He says, pressing the crystal into Hijikata's hand and clapping him on the shoulder before stepping back. ]

[ Yes that's certainly the equivalent of sending him to Timbuktu-- ]

[idkillforthat]

[ Probably. Not that he has room to talk. ]

[ He still scowls at Erwin, of course, huffing, but not actually moving to make good on his threat just yet. (Maybe he doesn't want to hurt the runt's feelings.) ]

Shut yer mouth if ya don't want my boot in it.

[mayoninofukucho]

Huh?

[He stares at the crystal as it glows brighter... and then, he's gone in a flash. Kenny may not have been very precise in his directions, but the Travel Crystal, whether by design or just by chance, defaults to the Winter Segment's airship station. In this simulation, it'll be a mere an inconvenience to Hijikata, but his bitching may still scare away even the monsters!

Congratulations, Kenny, you discovered a nifty way to get rid of annoying cops - and the best thing is that it even works in real life too! But given that genuine Travel Crystals are pretty expensive, it may just be for the better that he'll be spared the experience of wasting one.]

wrap ig?

[idkillforthat]

[ lmaooo byeeee ]

[ Quite pleased with his quick adaptation to local magic, Kenny proceeds to leave the guild quarters and terrorize the neighborhood some more. Maybe he'll settle down for a nap somewhere. The world is his oyster and all that. ]

[ He certainly doesn't expect to run into a bunch of people from his world, of course... ]

[offeredhearts]

[ The vibe of this whole exchange is painfully familiar. Erwin's won the round, and he can't help feeling a little bit smug about it, on Levi's behalf.

The truth, though, is that even if he's far accustomed to hearing such idle warnings, he and Kenny do not share the same sort of understanding as he does with the younger man; while Levi would be extremely unlikely to follow up on the threat, Erwin doesn't doubt that the chances of Kenny's follow through are much higher.

So: ]

In that case, I'll take my leave, so as not to give you a reason to make good on that, then.

Is there anything you'd like for me to pass on, before I go?

[idkillforthat]

Heh. Smart fella.

[ He's absolutely willing and capable of following through. The only reason he hasn't yet is because, apparently, death has chilled him out a bit. ]

[ Or maybe it was meeting Frieda and Uri. Somehow, those goddamn little hippies almost make him feel like he can be somewhat decent for a little while, before reality reminds him of itself again. ]

[ His expression grows more serious as he makes a vague thoughtful noise. What is there to say? He'd already said everything he had to say back there at the edge of the forest, when he was still clinging to life. Levi already knows that he didn't do anything wrong, that Kenny left for himself, that to whatever miniscule amount he's capable of he thought of him as family or at least someone worthy at the end. ]

[ He already knows Kenny's proud of him, too, right? ]

Nah. Can't think of nuthin'.

[ He fixes his hat to stare off at the nearby lake for a moment, then shoves it back over his eyes again. The runt did seem to need things spelled out for him sometimes. ]

...s'ppose ya can tell 'im he did well.

[dreamsofwings]

Because it's made of sand.

[ HELLO? Ugh, whatever. He was scared of Kenny when they met at home, and he isn't now. That isn't to say he regards Kenny as not dangerous. He just isn't scared the same as he was back then.

Instead of being scared, he's annoyed. Of course Kenny, the guy who abandoned a ten-year-old (or…something like that), isn't going to be useful if he doesn't have to be. He's very skilled, and very deadly, but also apparently just Like This.

Great.

Eren remembers Folkmore, the power he had there. Sometimes he misses it, because of course he does. Eren doesn't crave power for power's sake, but he hates the feeling of helplessness.

In this place, the rules aren't anything like the real world. He can't use his Folkmore power anymore in Ellipsa, but here, he can apparently do whatever he wants.

He trades fire for lightning. It doesn't exactly come from Eren. Maybe it's the titan thing, maybe it's the lived memory of Folkmore's magic, maybe it's just weird virtual reality shit. Either way, it comes from the sky, crashing down in a veritable storm around the sandwort.

It works because he imagines it will, because it worked in Folkmore and this is a Folkmore monster. Or something like that.

The sand falls into pieces, some of them grains and some of them chunks of glass from where it had melted. ]

Yeah. I can handle it.

[ Huff. ]

Did you…did you wake up here on a beach?

[ He's not sure if it works the same here as it does in Ellipsa itself. Kenny is the first person he's met who he didn't already know was in the city. Is Kenny even real? Good question!

All of that aside, Eren's question serves more purpose than base curiosity. If they're the same element, that might be harder to fight if he has to. And he doesn't dare turn into a titan. He's seen enough titans felled by Ackermans to not want to rely on that, if it comes to it. ]

[idkillforthat]

[ He is, indeed, Like This. ]

[ There had been more things in play when he left Levi, of course. It was the fact that he didn't need him around anymore that finally set him free, but he could have stayed regardless. He wasn't cut out for that, though. And the kid had just enough Kuchel in him that he didn't want to end up overwriting it with his own bullshit. He'd taught Levi enough cruelty to get by in the harsh place his sister deemed fit to hide him; there was no need for anything beyond that, not unless he wanted to make him like Kenny. It was the best for everyone that they parted when they did. (Levi would likely disagree.) ]

[ He watches Titan Brat smite the sand wurm with a rather impassive expression, eyebrows rising slightly because that is not an ability he has ever seen before. Does it even come from the monster? No, that has to be something else, doesn't it? ]

I've seen worse. [ He evaluates dismissively and tilts his head slightly in performative curiosity. ] A beach? Hell naw. Popped up right here.

[ To be fair, Kenny has the least experience fighting titans out of all Ackermans so Eren's chances would be... well, maybe still not great, but at least not as bad as it could against Levi or Mikasa. It's probably still not a bad idea not to test it though. ]

[dreamsofwings]

[ Eren knows how Levi feels about Kenny, that sense of abandonment. He has some faint inkling that Levi feels like he wasn't good enough, but even though he felt that in Levi's head, he rejects it a little bit. How could someone as strong as Levi ever not be good enough?

He also knows — because baby Levi said it, not because of weird mind meld shit — that Levi wanted to be taller than Kenny. He can't picture that; Levi is scary enough at his current height. ]

Yeah. Titans are worse.

[ Eren just says it matter-of-fact because it's true. Even the real sandworm in Folkmore that took he and Gideon both to kill it had nothing on titans. Eren knows better than anyone just how terrible titans can really be; isn't he the very worst of them? ]

Huh…right here? I wonder what season you got, then…

[ He doesn't really understand this metaverse thing, whether it's fake or real. Feels real enough, so he goes with that. ]

I wonder if you got winter.

[ He only says that because Levi did. Feels like a safe enough guess. ]

[idkillforthat]

[ Clearly he should have been stronger, Eren, get with the program! ]

Ha! Was gonna say people, but that works.

[ Kenny doesn't have that much experience with titans. He'd most familiar with the Founder, and while he's aware of the stupid, man-eating Titans, he may or may not have actually seen any up close. He doesn't have that automatic aversion to it; as far as he's concerned they're just another monster. ]

[ Considering how things ran in the Underground, eating some people doesn't sound like that awful of a thing. ]

[ Let's say Kenny has had the power run-down from Frieda by now. At first he just looks unimpressed, but quirks an eyebrow in surprise when Titan Brat gets it in one. ]

'Nd why'd you wonder that?

[offeredhearts]

[ Does he know? Erwin would have to wonder about that. Kenny seemed to have left Levi with more questions and anxieties than answers and reassurances. Perhaps Levi did know, deep down, much in the same way he should know that Erwin is proud of him. But whenever he voices it, it always seems to shake him a little, as though part of him still has a hard time believing.

No matter. He'll say it as many times as needed.

So it makes him smile, softer now, appreciative, to hear that Kenny understands that, too. ]

I will.

[ With that, Erwin will turn away from a fellow ghost, and continue on his way. ]

[idkillforthat]

[ Fellow ghost allows him to leave, though does watch him for a while as he does. ]

[ He wonders if this is it. Levi's vantage point. The person who makes him realize his dreams. ]

[ Heh, he's probably growing senile. ]

[ And he has no right to say something like this after leaving that kid to fend for himself and trying to kill him decades later, but... that's what family does, isn't it? Their fucked up, blood-streaked version of family, anyway. No one else is allowed to break their hearts, though. Especially no one actually capable of it. ]

...take care of 'im.

[ He says, not quite calling after Erwin, but perhaps by chance just loud enough to hear, perhaps just a hint of warning in it, or maybe it's just wishful thinking. ]

[ Then he pushes his hat over his eyes and heads the opposite way. ]

[dreamsofwings]

[ Eren can't really argue the people thing either. People are the worst there is. Does Kenny know that titans are people? Actually, Eren has no idea what Kenny knows. He has some vague notion of Kenny in a way he couldn't have gleaned from Levi, thanks to Uri's memories. But he can't just up and access whoever's memories whenever he wants. Maybe if he had access to the Founder and knew how to use it, he could do something like that. As it is, it's just one more mess of memories tied up with everything else that goes on in his head. It doesn't give him too much insight into this guy either way.

Without knowing what to expect if Kenny learns Levi is around (if he doesn't already know), Eren decides to answer the question outright. ]

Because the captain got winter.

[ He doesn't specify who he means any more than that; he never refers to Levi by name. It's some weird old habit. Armin got over that somewhat, but Eren just hasn't. For someone who lives a lot of time periods at once, he can get stuck in things like that, childhood habits that persist without him realising it or assessing why. ]

[idkillforthat]

[ Indeed they are. The two of them should know; they're people themselves after all. ]

[ Kenny watches him with some suspicion and also some curiosity. This guy is so much calmer than the brat crying in the chapel, even if his face remains largely the same. He wonders what the hell happened inbetween. ]

The fuck's that gotta do with me?

[ Wait. The runt was an officer in the Survey Corps, wasn't he?.. ]

[ Damn did he just go and brag to everyone they were related afterwards? Doesn't sound much like him. So far, two out of four people he's met seem to be aware of the fact (ironically, Frieda was not, and he intends to keep it that way.) ]

...oi, don't make the mistake of thinkin' we're that much alike.

[skyscrapes]

He could make a rational inference about what these abilities are. If Jean is fire, and therefore Summer, his abilities leaning towards cold and ice makes him think of Winter.

He thinks, first, of snow-laden peaks filled with cold cadets training. Then he thinks further back, to bitterly cold winters with his father; listening to his coughing get worse and worse and doing what he could to secure anything warm.

There's very little reflected on his face, just a somber expression. He lifts a hand, instead, feeling ice form along his palm.

"Do we know for sure we have bodies to return to?" he asks, meeting Jean's gaze after a moment. The implication is clear; Bertholdt knows that he should not be here, that all that is left is a headless corpse.

[skyscrapes]

It's a strange, powerful feeling, to drop a man to his knees with one sentence. To watch Reiner stumble forward, fall, and then reach out, grasping for any part of Bertholdt he can. If he were crueler, he would remain placid in the face of bringing the Armored Titan down so quickly.

If he was crueler, that is. He's a murderer, but he is also a human. The expression in his eyes is one of affection and love, and once Reiner starts moving, Bertholdt unfolds himself. When Reiner reaches out to him, Bertholdt grasps his arms with his hands, his touch strong and sure to steady his best friend.

Only his face shows his somber expression breaking; one of grief, then concern. His hands slide up until he cups Reiner's face, going easily into his embrace. He leans their foreheads together, his green eyes falling closed, before he tugs Reiner's head down to let him bury it in his shoulder, one hand falling to the nape of his neck.

"I'm so sorry," he says, his voice cracking a little. He knows what he's apologizing for. He's apologizing for leaving Reiner alone, to be the only survivor yet again. To whatever limited days Marley may leave him with for losing the Colossal Titan to the Paradisians.

[skyscrapes]

He could address the first part of that - the bit about Marley not wanting that information getting out and telling them only what they need to know. Of course, he wants to say; he may have been a child when he started, but he didn't believe Marley was the entire world. Marley was the only option he had to making sure his father did not waste away and die before his eyes, though.

Bertholdt's eyes weren't truly opened until Paradis. To live in the ruin of what you created, to see a snapshot of life one hundred years ago. To see the animals trapped in the dark, as Eren so aptly put it. He could not other them for long, in the muck and misery. In the shadow of a man who hung himself, whose story they stole for their own needs.

To find a monster, they became monsters.

"We didn't --" He starts at first, then stops, closing his eyes for the briefest moment before he continues. "No one had made it inside. We didn't know what it was like... but we knew what it was like after we broke down your wall."

For now, he assumes 'setting them free' means what he did in Shiganshina; Bertholdt's death to save Armin, the fact that there was no opposition to them leaving the walls anymore. Eren achieved his goal of cresting the top of those ruined walls and breaking free.

(The truth is so much more horrific. The truth is no worse than anything else Bertholdt has ever done. What is a million people trampled to death when Bertholdt has wiped an entire city off the map?)

He does not apologize, though his tone is undeniably somber. Apologies would change and mean nothing no matter how sincere.

[dreamsofwings]

Eren listens, eyes dark, that terrible cultivated distance trying to resettle into him. He's not really successful; he can't keep that blankness for long, especially when he's angry.

Ultimately, though, Bertholdt isn't who he's angry at. He can never forgive what happened when they were children. He doesn't know how. He doesn't care to learn. But if he can accept Reiner, maybe someday he can accept Bertholdt too.

For now he softens only slightly, at war with himself and his hatred.

"I know," he finally says, and it isn't derisive or a challenge. It's just...the truth. "How could you know? You were kids. That's all."

It isn't forgiveness, but he really does get it. The world was so much worse than any of them dreamed, in Marley or Paradis. It's worse even than that thanks to Eren. He has never been sorry for the world. He doesn't care if it burns. All he wanted was freedom, a clean slate outside the walls.

There was never any such thing.

And now there's...this, a boy long dead and one who has outlived the time allotted to him, stolen two years he won't have at home. He can't and wouldn't give Bertholdt's time back, but if he stays here, can he also be something different? That's a nice lie Eren tells himself, tells Reiner, that they can choose to be something else here. He wants it to be true.

"I've spent a long time away from that hell," he says. "And I'd rather die than go back. The stakes aren't the same here."

That is also a lie, at least on some level. For Eren, the stakes are the same. Save his people at any cost, even if that cost is the world. He has no idea what amount of stolen time they get to have here, but he'll fight with all he has to keep them here and safe and whole. He includes Reiner in that calculation; eventually he has to include Bertholdt because Reiner does.

[skyscrapes]

We should have known better. Who teaches their child wiping a city off the face of the earth is a good thing. Bertholdt nearly tells Eren this, but he decides against it; instead what crosses over his face is a complicated expression, of acceptance and grief. Eren's not fighting him, after all. Bertholdt does not expect forgiveness of any sort, least of all when he cannot forgive himself. He won't do himself the disservice of begging forgiveness after the fact.

In part because he must live with it, and also a tiny, manipulative part that knows Eren does not kindly view those with shaken convictions. Better to remain as he is now, potentially an enemy, than be seen as any weaker.

The statement of spending a long time away from hell - home - matches with what Jean had shared with him earlier. That they are all from different points, that they can be stolen but just as easily returned without any memory of being here.

He does not deny that some tension eases from his shoulders, though, when Eren says he'd rather die than go back.

"I don't want to fight if I don't have to," Bertholdt admits again after a long moment. No, he doesn't want to fight; he will if he has to. Just as Eren will not fight him right now, but might want to.

"I don't know how long I have here," He continues on, almost grudging. "I don't remember arriving here; if I don't have a body to return to, then this is all pointless anyways."

[dreamsofwings]

Eren tilts his head just a little, considering. Unlike him, unlike Reiner, Bertholdt doesn't jump into battle at the slightest provocation. They'd probably all be dead if he did. Knowing enough of what Bertholdt is like, Eren chooses to believe him. It isn't the same as won't fight. Just like what Eren said, they'll both throw down if they have to. Eren is still easy to provoke, deal or no deal.

For now, that unsteady truce holds.

"I don’t know. Anyone can disappear from this place without warning. Death here doesn't matter, seems like. I knew that before I ran into you. All we can do is move forward for as long as we're allowed to."

Eren learned that idea from Reiner, but these are still Eren's words, his stubbornness. He never liked admitting they have no choices, but this is out of their control. Bertholdt will stay or he won't.

Eren can't find Armin's sort of freeing nihilism. Armin realising nothing they did mattered had been eye opening for him. Eren can't do that. He so desperately wants everything to matter here and now, where the future remains unknown and unseen by him.

"You're here now," he finally says with a shrug. "It's up to you what to do with it."