#arin route when

[charged-wanderlust]

anyone else? no? just me? ok

[arinlangdon]

so now that we have the Pride 2020 special and the Halloween special, i want to just... put these here for posterity. because i like collecting happy things

Pride 2020

MC Narration:

Their eyes are on me, and their gaze is sympathetic and kind. I feel my face start to heat, but as I open my mouth to speak, I'm interrupted by the sound of rustling.

heck

me too, MC. me too. this is what did me in honestly

Halloween 2020

Omar Narration:

When I wave back I can't help but notice the blush on Arin's cheeks. Wait... does Arin have feelings for FMC?

HOT DANG this is the most blatant ship tease

rationally, i understand that they're probably testing the waters for overall interest in an Arin route

but emotionally, i'm just... they'd better not be baiting us with no intention of actually following through!!

[zhoras-bitch]

My takeaway from this is that Arin definitely knows about the magic library and is some sort of a guardian of it.

[arinlangdon]

snippets of a conversation with @megatraven about the Halloween special RE: an Arin route

They'd eat if we were having Arin loaf.

[arinlangdon]

wills Arin to magically appear on this list

[arinlangdon]

[part 1 of this post]

for Arin’s part, they seem to genuinely care about FMC. they always seem happy to see her, often asks after her studies, and makes their worry known when she doesn’t seem to be doing well.

FMC Narration: As soon as they see me, they smile, their gentle expression as soothing as always. —Nora s01e01

look, they smile immediately upon seeing her, and she finds their expression “soothing”. come on, that’s sweet, no matter how you slice it.

FMC Narration: [MMC]’s phone pings and he checks it with a sigh. MMC: “[FMC], you should text Arin.” MMC: “They were the first person I reached out to, to see if you were safe. I’m sure they’re worried.” FMC Narration: I pull out my phone to find a bunch of missed calls. FMC: “I should hurry to campus. I can reassure them in person.” —Ezra s01e03

Arin was so worried about her. what a sweetheart??

also, if they were the first person he reached out to, who else did he contact? might be the law of conservation of detail, but it doesn’t seem like anyone else responded.

FMC Narration: I look up from my books with a sheepish smile. FMC Narration: Arin smiles back. Arin: “What’re you doing here so late?” FMC: “Can I tell you a secret?” Arin: “Always.” —Ezra s01e05 

“always”!! i mean, wow, CUTE??

Arin: “How’s the classwork coming?” FMC: “...Not great.” FMC: “I’m trying, I promise. I just bit off more than I can chew.” Arin: “I’m always here to help if you need it. You know where my office is.” Arin: “But right now you should get back to your real home and sleep.” FMC: “Thanks, Arin.” —Ezra s01e05

and this entire conversation happens in the library late at night, when i’m sure Arin was about to go into the magic library to do whatever secret thing they do there. it says something that they took the time to talk to her before escorting her out.

Arin: “How is your last Shakespeare assignment going?” FMC Narration: I sigh, barely biting back an impolite word. FMC: “I forgot again. When is it due?” Arin: “Maybe it would be better if you dropped that class.” FMC Narration: Arin’s eyes are only concerned, not frustrated or disappointed. Arin: “You’re not helping yourself by overdoing it.” Arin: “You could burn yourself out to the point where you can’t learn anything in any class.” —Ezra s01e07

concerned senpai is concerned.

and this one isn’t here nor there, but i thought this was a fun sort of jokey exchange:

[C. Arin, you’re evil.] FMC: “Arin, this is evil. I think this might technically be extortion.” Arin: “Really? I think it’s more like... bribery.” —Ezra s01e08

all things considered, their interactions give me the sense of an acquaintanceship that’s quite warm, where both parties trust and care genuinely about each other. right now, Arin is pretty evasive and is keeping their cards close to their vest, but i can see potential for them to grow closer once the cloak over Arin is lifted a little.

and i’m probably biased, but i feel like FMC fangirls them a lot in both of her routes. it's very cute. it’s like, “i know this is Nora's/Ezra's route, but—FMC, are you sure you don't have a crush on Arin, are you SURE.”

it kind of reminds me of how, in Nora's route, there's a lot of hinting at Ezra's hidden depths and building up his intrigue, which was probably to hype up his upcoming debut. i hope it’s not wishful thinking that they're doing the same for Arin.

[arinlangdon]

so, at some point, i really want FMC to finally realize that Arin has been right there all along.

i’m thinking of all the times they spent tutoring her, of how they have her phone number, of how worried they were when she went missing. how they’re the one person in this lonely little town who's always had a smile for her.

she may be the light keeper, but they're her safe harbor. her quiet ship on a sliding sea.

[arinlangdon]

@charged-wanderlust

i love how you put a whole section of non-arin news, like arin isnt the only thing that matters

#im JOKING#i just want arin route ok#what do they KNOW???#ngl their character is so ???? we dont know ANYTHING about them#just that they like to teach and learn thats IT#i just want their route bc more nb rep highkey#but im also just so CURIOUS

you're not wrong! Arin is the only thing that matters... in my heart. i'm glad you understand. u__u

(i think their air of mystery is a large part of their appeal, but i'm also very ready to peel away the veil! i already really love what little we know of them and i'm sure i'll love them even more once we know their deal)