themainframe | 001 [video]

It's really not that hard to work, this'll just record yourself and everyone else here can talk to you.

[A Tentomon appears, waving towards someone off-screen.]

And talking to people is definitely better than freaking out and biting yourself.

[After a few moments of shuffling, a teenaged boy appears on screen, looking more than a little annoyed. He rubs at his eyes, frustrated.]

I already told you, none of what you're saying makes sense. You're shit at explaining things.

That doesn't mean you can just hurt yourself!

[The boy ignores the Tentomon, shuffling closer to the D-Terminal. Way too close, actually, because now all you can see is his eye and nose.]

How does this thing even work? It doesn't even make sense.

It might make sense if you weren't pressing your face against it.

[Once again, Tentomon gets ignored. Well, mostly.]

But you're saying that Mikasa and Armin can here me? And...and even the Corporal? If they're here at this...whatever place? Digital world?

That's right. I'm sure anyone watching this can tell us where they are, we just need to ask! Though...I guess this counts as asking, doesn't it?

Right. So, Mikasa, Armin, if you're here, I'm safe. Or...anyone else who knows them, you could tell them that too? I don't know.

[He leans back, finally, looking at the Tentomon helplessly. After a few tense moments of staring, Eren motions at the D-Terminal and Tentomon scrambles forward to end the feed.]

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[He frowns.]

But they were right there with me. How could they take me away from the corps with nobody coming with me?

[He really doesn't understand, and it's starting to aggravate him immensely.]

Magic most likely, probably of ye olde second kind.

[ Just laced with sarcasm there. ] Get used to it. A lot of us are here without anyone from 'home'.

Ha. Ha.

[Aren't you hilarious.]

Am I just supposed to sit here and hope everyone made it back within the wall without ever finding out if all of those deaths weren't worth a shit?

[He's so mad. And he probably makes no sense, but Eren hasn't really grasped the fact that he's the only one who knows anything about where he's from.]

[ She is pretty funny, dude. ]

Uh-oh, we all better watch out. We've got someone with a trouble past here trying to talk down to us poor commoners because we don't know a thing he's saying. [ Hmph. ]

You're not making any sense. Didn't they tell you when you first showed up? Bunch of weirdos, different worlds?

[A regular comedienne.]

Not my fault this place has never heard of Titans and what they can do.

[Because it isn't!]

And I heard that. If you don't understand, what do you want me to do? Sit here and explain my troubled past?

You might make more friends that way if you explain what's so urgent, but don't expect everyone to just understand why you're so upset.

[ Leaning back in her chair. The area around her looks fairly cluttered and lived in; it's possible she's been here for a long time. There is an assault rifle propped up against a wall in the corner of the video though. ]

[He throws his hands up.]

Fine! I just saw some of the most skilled soldiers die, and then I almost got killed myself fighting the Titan that killed them, and then we had to leave their bodies behind and I don't know if anyone even made it to safety before I got brought here! Does that answer everything for you?

Oh, I understand it now. You're suffering from PTSD and you need the help of a therapist. You're in luck. I saw one post on their D-Terminal just a little while back. She had blonde hair, kind of a manic look in her eyes, also wears her hair up in two pigtails and is all sorts of nuts!

[ Pointing to her head for emphasis, she pauses once she realizes she just described herself. ]

Also it's not me. Someone else who fits that description.

[PSTD? What is this fancy speak. He doesn't know what you're talking about.]

I don't have PTSD, whatever that is.

How many people are there that look like you?

Yeah, sure. I guess you have that and some kind of psychological denial disorder.

Listen though, there's maybe just one person who looks as good as me here. [ Flipping her hair over her shoulder with her free hand. ] The rest, I guess they're all right. Less than a hundred of us, that's for sure.

This world is mostly full of Digimon. You know, that strange creature that's been trying to talk to you?

Psycho-what?

[What do you mean mental health is a thing?

He's also fixing her with a really unimpressed look.]

Right. Is there a reason there's so many of us here?

[A hundred people is a lot.]

[ That strikes her as odd, but she doesn't comment on it. Instead, she just answers his question. ]

It isn't fully explained, we're just drawn here from different worlds. With so many different ones to account for, this is a surprisingly low number. Some of us have come alone, while sometimes there's a group from the same place.

[It's probably for the best to ignore most of the things he asks.

He seems to mull over that for a moment, before letting out a frustrated sigh.]

And we can't go back. We're stuck here and we just have to deal with that? They just expect us to be okay with all of this?

[He's not so great at dealing with being stuck places.]

[ Sounds like he has a big complex over being trapped somewhere. ]

Well, they probably don't, but they do what they can to accommodate us with our living spaces. Not many places are kind enough to give you a free roof over your head and food.

... Unless you're from some kind of twisted world where everyone has an equal share!

[No way.]

I wouldn't say it was equal over all, but in the Scouting Legion we were all treated the same.

[This isn't what he wants to hear goddammit.]

I'd rather be back there even if I don't get such nice accommodations.

Congratulations, you're the first person who has ever said they wanted to go back instead of staying here. I don't know what is appropriate for a prize--maybe a boot to the head?

They aren't going to let us go back. Once you get that in your head, you can stop getting upset over what is and start moving forward.

I can't move forward, not...not while my friends are laying down their lives and I'm here being useless! I can't accept that.

Don't you get it? Once we fix up this place, they're sure to allow us to return to where we need to be.

So complaining about it and refusing to help is only slowing your return down.

I never said I wouldn't help! I just don't know why I can't know anything going on at home.

It'd be unfair to tell you while not telling any of the rest of us, don't you think?

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