action + video;

[anequal]

[action;]
[There's a young, blond haired boy sitting at a bench outside of the small (although it's extremely large to him) Tokyo Tower with a blue dog beside him. The Gaomon refuses to stand still, punching and kicking and jumping around, even as Armin sits as still as he can. He's silent, staring at the ground as a million thoughts run through his head (why him? what is this place? he got the explanation but it just brought more questions. was he the only one here? how would he survive here, he's never known anything outside of the walls that wasn't out to eat people.) He sits there for almost an hour until he finally gets to his feet, taking a deep breath and clenching his hands into fists to keep them from shaking. He's got to figure this out. He begins to walk, the Gaomon pausing its training to follow him as he begins to look for anybody he would be able to talk to.

And that person is you! Clad in a dark green cloak with the crest of a pair of wings embroidered into the back, Armin's expression is both serious and nervous, and he manages to stay calm as he walks up to you, raising his arm to show his D-Terminal.]

Excuse me-- I just arrived here a short while ago, and I'm afraid that I'm having trouble figuring out how this works. If you're familiar with how it works, would it be all right if I asked you to show me? As well as... a few tips on how to get by around here, if it's not too much trouble.

[video;]
[The video is later in the day, hours after Armin left the Tokyo Tower and learned some locations in Terminal Tokyo and found his way to the newcomers' apartment. He hasn't entered his room yet, but instead seems to be standing in one of the corridors, holding his device to show his face on the camera.]

... This is Armin Arlert of the Scouting Legion.

I've arrived at the housing prepared for newcomers to this world. If there is anybody from the Scouting Legion, Garrison, or Military Police -- or anybody who recognizes those names, I would like to request correspondence.

Comments

action;

[codes]

[ Oh Armin. Poor, poor Armin. On one hand, he's made an excellent choice in asking someone to teach them about the D-Terminal. If there's anyone who's adept at it, it's her.

On the other hand, she's a devious individual who has too much fun picking on the new guys. ]

Sure, why not. It isn't as if I have anything else better to do with my time. [ Is she serious? Who knows with that tone laced with sarcasm and friendliness all at once? ] Didn't your Digimon partner teach you anything or they just as clueless?

action;

[anequal]

My partner...

[Armin turns to look at the Gaomon, who looks up at him and says nothing.]

I don't think I spoke to it. I didn't realize. It can do that?

action;

[codes]

Usually.

[ Glancing towards the Gaomon suspiciously, but whatever malicious air she had surrounding her diminishes in doing so. ]

Hey, you're capable of talking aren't you? Don't tell me you're shy like my Lunamon.

action;

[anequal]

[He does not like being expected to words, lady. The Gaomon blinks at her now and then raises his hands with the gloves in a sort of defensive maneuver before he drops them and then nods. But does not say anything.]

... I think it's a very quiet creature. It hasn't said anything to me yet.

[video]

[titansnack]

[Eren's response isn't instantaneous. He's been waiting for someone to show up, desperately hoping it would be Armin, or Mikasa. (Hell, he'd even be happy to see Jean. He was just...so lonely, even though he would never, ever admit it.)

But despite him spending so much time hoping for his friends to show up, and despite him actively scouring the city every other day, he didn't ever think to look on the network for their faces. Then again, he couldn't even operate the damn D-Terminal. It had been his Tentomon who had been watching the various network posts, and once he heard Armin's voice through the speakers he had almost tackled the lady bug over as he reached for it.

And that's the sight that greets Armin as soon as the video starts - Eren half covering his Tentomon who's still holding onto the D-Terminal, leaning forward as close as he can get without crushing the digimon too badly.]

Armin! You're finally here!

[video]

[anequal]

[Still in the hallway, Armin is watching the device so he gets the response immediately. For a moment he's dumbfounded, trying to understand why Eren is so cheerful after everything that happened and why Eren seems more comfortable in this city than he definitely feels. And "finally"? What did he mean? The Gaomon stares up at the device as Armin stares down and it takes him a moment to find his voice.]

Eren! You're here, too? Where are you?

[video]

[titansnack]

I'm-

[He's cut off as his Tentomon wiggles out from underneath him, hitting him in the stomach with its elbow.]

We're in his room! Are you his friend from back home? The nice one?

[Eren grumbles, snatching the D-Terminal away from his Tentomon.]

Yeah, we're in my...apartment. [Is that the right word?] Where are you? I'll come find you!

[video]

[anequal]

[... For a second, he though the sound echoed, like he was hearing it faintly from another source, too. But then a large bug of sorts is talking at him and his dog has hopped to hang off his shoulder to get a better look and Armin staggers under the sudden weight.]

The apartments... that's where I am too, I think. The place where they assigned me somewhere to live...

Eren, are you feeling all right?

action;

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[Wheeljack was just out, getting some groceries as per the usual start of the week. He'd heard about the new influx of newcomers, deciding that the pamphlet that he and Terra made would suffice for this go around.

No effort needed, right?

His Sheepmon walks along next to him, carrying the groceries in her mouth as the boy runs up to him, holding the D-Terminal in his hand. At first, Wheeljack can't help but look around, as if the kid had mistaken him for someone he apparently knew. But realizing that this...was just a stranger, he gives a slight shrug.]

Not today, alright?

[The Sheepmon nudges him in the back, giving him a glare.]

Crest of Friendship.

[There's a two second stare-off, before Wheeljack leans over the D-Terminal presented to him, bringing up the screen. The Sheepmon, however, has now focused on Armin himself, giving a little giggle.]

Your head looks like a coconut.

action;

[anequal]

[It takes Armin a moment to realize where the second voice is coming from, glancing from the man in front of him to what he assumes is a sheep, remembering the strange creature that spoke to him when he first arrived here, remembering that this strange new place had multiple of such creatures. His eyes follow the man's movements, widening a fraction as he watches him work with the device, but his attention then turns to the sheep.]

A coconut?

action;

[wheeljackofalltrades]

[Wheeljack merely gives Armin an eyeroll, aimed towards the sheep in question, before he pulls up the main screen of the D-Terminal.]

Just ignore her. It's what I do.

Now, this is what you'll mainly be usin' it for. It's like a video feed where ya can record things that'll be broadcast to the whole city. It's how ya communicate if you're not gonna go face to face with someone. Or ya could put it in Audio, or text.

Up to you in the end.

I'm going to call you Coconut Head.

You.

[There's a soft whine as her head drops, ears folded back. She can say hi too, you know!]

Ya can also document stuff...like a map. Oh, and they're good flashlights.

action;

[anequal]

[Armin has to tear his eyes away from the sheep, listening and watching to the explanation.. but once Wheeljack is done talking, he opens his mouth to throw back questions.]

I'm unfamiliar with the terms video and broadcast. Back home, there wasn't any technology even remotely close to what is available here. I'm afraid I'm not sure what flashlights or coconuts are, either.

Video

[bigsoftie]

[OH WAIT he heard that name before. It was that kid who kept biting himself and just had an angry look in general (kind of like himself.). The former mutant nodded his head slowly at the question. He's supposed to answer this, right?]

Do you know a human with black hair?

Video

[anequal]

[That is one pale-looking person. But Armin focuses more on the question.

A human with black hair...]

... I know many, actually. Is it a man or a woman?

Video

[bigsoftie]

A man.

He was biting himself, what a weirdo.

Duke, do not bother him.

Video

[anequal]

... Was he biting his thumb?

[He imitates the action.]

[Video]

[calibrates_big_guns]

[He's greeted by a concerned and intrigued looking Garrus

Scouting Legion?

[Sounds like a recon outfit, but that can't be right. Even in a culture where teens serve compulsory military service, those are the units for hardened veterans.]

How old are you?

[Video]

[anequal]

[That is one scary face and Armin blinks at the question. The man reacted to the name, but he doesn't look extremely familiar...]

Fifteen, sir. I graduated as a member of the 104th Training Corps. Are you a member of the Legion?

[Video]

[calibrates_big_guns]

[Fifteen, huh? Why is he running in to so many kids fighting wars?]

No, and, ah, you don't have to call me sir, I haven't exactly been part of the military since I was 23 ... unless consultant counts.

video;

[fuckinstoplights]

[S'up Armin. There's a scraggly-looking young man in an eyepatch sitting in a hallway, watching the video.]

Police?

You're looking for the police?

video;

[anequal]

[There are a lot of people with seemingly injured eyes here what's up with that.]

The military police. If they're wearing their uniforms, they would have a crest with a green horse on their back. Do you know of them?

video;

[fuckinstoplights]

[Who knows man, maybe it's something in the water.]

No. I haven't seen anyone wearing those things...

[He pauses. And this is going to sound really stupid, but:]

What is a horse?

Action

[individuates]

[blinking at the thrust-out D-terminal, steadying the Lopmon he has perched precariously on his head before smiling] ...well, sure. It doesn't work that differently to a cell phone, you know? You just have to keep pressing buttons until you find the function you want!

[...those sure are nerves written all over your face, aren't they?] Let me hazard a guess here. You just arrived?

Action

[anequal]

[Cell phone? Buttons? These things were called buttons (he supposes the shapes look similar to what kept his clothes fastened...)? He doesn't even know what function he wants or what's available. His Gaomon is silently watching.]

I-- yes. It's only been a few hours since I arrived in that building, I think.

Action

[individuates]

[he gives a small nod. Kind of hard to nod properly with a Digimon on your head, but he totally sympathises] Culture shock? I'm still getting used to things here myself.

So tell me what you want this thing to do, and I'll show you how to do it.