trying this out

[safekeeps]

You do realize that you won't know if my icon set works until you actively try it out, right? Loading something up and then putting it to good use is your only way to figure that out.

Or are you just searching for a reason to chicken out of the whole deal?

Not that I'd mind if you did.

[But you can start over anew...]

And forget my name while I'm at it. And it's only temporary. You're dumber than I though if you think I'd fall for that.

[But Christa will be there...]

...

Comments

[beschutzer]

Oh! [She blinks, then looks away, scowling a little as she pulls back.] Oof. Be serious...

This is so unfair. I know how important your identity is to you, and it shouldn't just be pushed aside for my sake, or anyone else's... [politely ignores mun's enthusiastic commentary on the matter and the "cuteness" thereof.] If I could help you, I would! I wish there was something I could do from here.

[safekeeps]

You can talk to her and try to make her get what a dumb idea it is to send me there.

[If Christa moves away she will just use the movement to shift her hand so she can have some of Christa's hair slide through her fingers with that movement. Teasing still? Maybe.] I'm sure she will listen to a 'goddess'.

[beschutzer]

Ymirrr... [She squirms.] I don't know if it works that way! [Does it? This meta thing is confusing!]

[After a moment of huffily indulging her, she catches her hand, staring at Ymir intently.] I want you to be able to forge your own path still and live for yourself, even if you can't remember everything... Even with different memories, I know you'll still be you! And the other me can help you do that! [She nods resolutely.] So it'll be okay!

[safekeeps]

[That would be a nice thought. Really.

Too bad Ymir is rather fond of sticking with reality. Or that's what she'd call it.] You do realize that memories shape "who we are", so we cannot live as ourselves if we don't have them. [She's mostly being sharp because she gets the impression that Christa, rather than being simply naive, is putting on that front to be encouraging.

Which. Nope.] Though living for myself should technically be easier with that set of memories.

[beschutzer]

[Her shoulders droop a little at that, but her mouth is set in a stubborn line.] You said you'll be able to get them back though, right? So, we'll- well, you guys- should be able to put everything together! It could take some time, but... I can't imagine you being erased that easily! We wouldn't let it come to that, okay?!

Even if it happens gradually, it still counts! You wouldn't stop being Ymir either way, and you'll be able to retake your name! [She crosses her arms.] Even if you forget it, I bet I'll remember.

[safekeeps]

Seems like some others got a headstart on that whole getting their memories back thing. [Which technically wouldn't be a problem if Reiner and Bertholdt weren't among those people.

Yeah.] Maybe they already know my name

[beschutzer]

Really? That's a relief! [...Sort of. That could be complicated, depending on who it is. But even after everything that's happened, their comrades would be able to put it aside when they're trapped in an unfamiliar place, right...?]

So, while you're all getting situated, you'll be able to help each other out... See, Ymir? You'll be back to your old self in no time! Maybe it'll be a fresh start after all!

[safekeeps]

[She makes a facial expression that equals a snort at that. Stop being so ridiculously naive optimistic.

Which brings her to a completely different topic.] So how about you?

[beschutzer]

Me? I don't know. There have been a couple ideas, but nothing's stuck yet... [She shrugs.] I guess we'll see!

[safekeeps]

Avoid things with the label "horror", okay?

[She only encountered the term as a genre label after being picked up as a muse, but they sound like exactly the thing where people die a lot places Christa should not go and probably will want to go.]

[beschutzer]

I'm not afraid... I'd rather end up somewhere I could be useful than in a place where I couldn't. I wouldn't be able to just relax somewhere peaceful, knowing everyone else was fighting for their life!

[safekeeps]

If you are in a peaceful game, nobody will be fighting for their life. And by going to a game where bad things happen, you keep that game alive. You help perpetuate a situation where people are forced to fight for their lives.

[He voice was slightly raised at the last sentences and returns to a normal volume now.] So you ambitions to die in a way that others will praise you for would actually bring misfortune on others in this case.

So it's your decision to try to die heroically or actually help them.

[beschutzer]

[She flinches.] It's not- It's not like that!! [-and that's not especially convincing.]

A lot of our friends are trapped in terrible places already, and even if I ended up somewhere safe, where I had no idea, I'd still know people are suffering back home while I'm not accomplishing anything of worth!

I wouldn't choose a horrible place to live, but-... [She glances away, wary.] None of this is going to be my choice anyway. If it happens, it happens! I would be fine with it!

[safekeeps]

[okay you know what

this isn't getting anywhere. And the new situation with headspaces and all that allows for new possibilities to act.

And that includes new possibilities to set Christa's head straight. You've only lost if you don't try anymore and such.

So let her just grab you and throw you over her shoulder, Christa. Struggle all you will and send them tumbling down into a heap because Ymir probably cannot actually hold you up there if you resist because weight and physics, but eventually Ymir will drag you to do some game hopping.]

[beschutzer]

Wait, what are you- Ymir!

[watch out, she's fidgeting a little! But despite her annoyance, she stops squirming long enough to try and get an explanation.]

Where are you taking me?!

[safekeeps]

[Sweet, she'll start to walk carefully then - carefully mroe in the sense of closely paying attention to the girl on her shoulder in case the struggles continue]

Discedo, for now. [Maybe demonstrating what happens if you go and don't go to such places will help... not that she thinks that it will. Because that's not the problem, is it? But she has no deal how to approach with that, so she'll hope that something crops up along the way of talking about the surface issues.]

[beschutzer]

[She makes a face.] Put me down then, I'll walk!

[With a sigh, she ponders this.] I'm not going to be ending up there, since that place was abandoned... So... You're hoping I'll get scared out of all this, aren't you? [She frowns. Obviously, that wasn't going to be happening...] It's not going to be up to me either way, you know.

[safekeeps]

[She'll put Christa down after stepping on a street in an apocalyptic city, positive that none of the monsters can actually see them because they don't belong in this place. And even if - compared to giants, they are very easy to kill.]

Yes, abandoned. Because not enough people came here anymore, not because people came to the aid of those trapped here.

[And then she shrugs.] You can at least try being supremely uncooperative with the samples.

[beschutzer]

I see the point you're trying to make, but... You don't know that I'd get sent somewhere like here anyway. It could really be anywhere.

[As a monstrous boar lumbers by, she tenses up, hands flying to her 3D Maneuver Gear.] Even with things like this... I did my first titan kill recently! Did you end up seeing that, Ymir? [She grins a little, in spite of herself.]

[safekeeps]

Did you expect me to be surprised?

[She steps right past the boar, heading towards one of the high, abandoned buildings.

It's not that she doesn't care, definitely not - this is more her way of saying 'I never expected you to have any trouble with that, because you're strong and capable even though I wish you'd stay as far away from all titans as possible'.]

[beschutzer]

[Once it's clear that the boar really is neutral to them, she relaxes, following Ymir.] I guess not...

[A slight laugh.] I almost was. I've always felt like I could do it like they'd trained us, but it was sort of nice having proof. [She smiles at her.] Don't worry, that doesn't mean I'm not taking all of this seriously!

[safekeeps]

|She sometimes wonder if Christa takes anything seriously, really seriously - in the way that others would ascribe the word. As in, does she look at situations in a way that others would consider appropriate.

But then, who really cares as long as she takes their relationship seriously - whatever it is, she has no idea. As far as Ymir is concerned, nothing else counts. Except for Christa taking her own life seriously, of course, because that would kinda hurt their relationship if Christa died. ...That is kind of the core of the problem, but she cannot do more than try to work on thatand kinda fail.|

Good to hear.

|And heading upstairs!|

[beschutzer]

[She follows suit, her smile fading somewhat.] So... You seem to know where you're going. Do you have a plan, or are we just playing this by ear?

[If anything, Christa sees Ymir as the one who doesn't take things seriously enough. After all, there's a difference between trying to see the good in the worst of times and taking off into danger to prove a point (but naturally, she's far worse about that, even if she refuses to see it that way).

Oh well. Ymir is Ymir. Her way seems to work for her, and Christa respects that. Still though...] I'd prefer to know what we're getting into, you know.

[safekeeps]

[She waves her hand around without turning back to look at Christa.] Sightseeing.

Watch your step, some parts of the stairs are broken.

[beschutzer]

Sightseeing?

[She looks down, walking carefully.] You mean trying to scare me off... I appreciate what you're trying to do, Ymir, but it's not going to happen. We've seen a lot worse than this...