[ The Judge listens to all Armin has to share, listening in his quiet way with the occasional soft noise of understanding or the tilt of his head. And then— he has things of his own to share. Collections of papers, some scraps, some full sheaves. Writings of a man that many of them have met, a man that has seen others come and go. His writing is shared amongst survivors, kept in another chest in the dilapidated building nearby. Much of what they know of what Baker calls 'the Entity' is due to his exploration and subsequent writings.
Other things the Judge has to share: more... hands-on knowledge. Things that will (hopefully) keep Armin alive long enough to make use of the information Baker had to share. Instructions for handling a generator, written on a scrap of paper with charcoal from the bonfire. Instructions, too, for how to find items the Entity leaves them, hidden in chests that take precious time to open but sometimes that risk is worth it, saving time in other places, or offering escape from an otherwise grim situation. And finally, the way to escape aside from either gate: the hatch, an unpredictable thing that might spawn anywhere within a trial. The last survivor might escape from it, so long as the killer didn't find it first.
Outside of that, the Judge joins Armin in his drills, forgoing heavy jacket but taking particular care to keep the balaclava - and mask affixed to it - from being pulled astray. But the mask can hide neither the Judge's skin, scarred countless times, nor his hair; long, black, plaited neatly down his back and tied with leather cord.
When Armin is taken to another trial, the Judge can only wait anxiously that the other is alright, that he will survive on his own. The Entity seems not to want for his anticipation, though, seeing fit instead that the Judge is sent to trial himself. His adversary is a man for whom the title 'doctor' is even less fitting than it was in life. When he returns to the bonfire, nerves still afire from electrical shocks, Armin's relief surprises the Judge.
Pizza is something the Judge has forgotten the taste of, but he is quite sure it's nothing like what the others have come up with. He cannot fault them their attempt to recreate something of home, though. He follows Armin into the gas station instead, rubbing idly at his shoulder and occasionally flexing his fingers. As Armin sets the teddy bear back on the shelf, the Judge comes close, lifting a gloved hand. He reaches to grip the other's chin, gentle, and turn his head to better see the cause of blood on his collar. Gone, now, whatever it was. Armin is fortunate to be able to heal in such a way. Other survivors might not feel the same. He lowers his hand away, a brief grip on Armin's shoulder.
Some survivors have escaped, according to Benedict. Not just back to the bonfire, but back home. If it's true, maybe Armin will escape one day, too. The Judge watches Armin for a moment, still and silent, and then finally turns away, moving instead behind what once served as a checkout counter, and ducks behind it. A moment later, just his hand reappears to place something atop the ruined countertop: a small spiral-bound notebook, its pages yellowed and the cover faded and bent. ]
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Other things the Judge has to share: more... hands-on knowledge. Things that will (hopefully) keep Armin alive long enough to make use of the information Baker had to share. Instructions for handling a generator, written on a scrap of paper with charcoal from the bonfire. Instructions, too, for how to find items the Entity leaves them, hidden in chests that take precious time to open but sometimes that risk is worth it, saving time in other places, or offering escape from an otherwise grim situation. And finally, the way to escape aside from either gate: the hatch, an unpredictable thing that might spawn anywhere within a trial. The last survivor might escape from it, so long as the killer didn't find it first.
Outside of that, the Judge joins Armin in his drills, forgoing heavy jacket but taking particular care to keep the balaclava - and mask affixed to it - from being pulled astray. But the mask can hide neither the Judge's skin, scarred countless times, nor his hair; long, black, plaited neatly down his back and tied with leather cord.
When Armin is taken to another trial, the Judge can only wait anxiously that the other is alright, that he will survive on his own. The Entity seems not to want for his anticipation, though, seeing fit instead that the Judge is sent to trial himself. His adversary is a man for whom the title 'doctor' is even less fitting than it was in life. When he returns to the bonfire, nerves still afire from electrical shocks, Armin's relief surprises the Judge.
Pizza is something the Judge has forgotten the taste of, but he is quite sure it's nothing like what the others have come up with. He cannot fault them their attempt to recreate something of home, though. He follows Armin into the gas station instead, rubbing idly at his shoulder and occasionally flexing his fingers. As Armin sets the teddy bear back on the shelf, the Judge comes close, lifting a gloved hand. He reaches to grip the other's chin, gentle, and turn his head to better see the cause of blood on his collar. Gone, now, whatever it was. Armin is fortunate to be able to heal in such a way. Other survivors might not feel the same. He lowers his hand away, a brief grip on Armin's shoulder.
Some survivors have escaped, according to Benedict. Not just back to the bonfire, but back home. If it's true, maybe Armin will escape one day, too. The Judge watches Armin for a moment, still and silent, and then finally turns away, moving instead behind what once served as a checkout counter, and ducks behind it. A moment later, just his hand reappears to place something atop the ruined countertop: a small spiral-bound notebook, its pages yellowed and the cover faded and bent. ]