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[ Jean raises a hand to brush it through Eren's hair. He knows Eren doesn't really care, and he'd be happy to go with him in any normal outfit. But it's nice that Eren trusts him to pick something out, too.
He thinks of and dismisses a waistcoat, deciding on slacks and a shirt, tucked in, and a longer jacket to match it - probably one styled like Maruki's, not that Jean consciously thinks about it too much. ]
All right, but you can't complain.
[ He can if he wants, and Jean would change it. But after a kiss to the top of Eren's head, he nudges them towards the wardrobe to get dressed. ]
He thinks of and dismisses a waistcoat, deciding on slacks and a shirt, tucked in, and a longer jacket to match it - probably one styled like Maruki's, not that Jean consciously thinks about it too much. ]
All right, but you can't complain.
[ He can if he wants, and Jean would change it. But after a kiss to the top of Eren's head, he nudges them towards the wardrobe to get dressed. ]
[Eren finds that he still likes it when Jean exercises what control he can too. His heart flutters with an infatuation that's never faded. Led to their bedroom, Eren hooks their fingers together, letting Jean tug him along.
[They get their outfits and undress. Eren stops between slacks and shirts to pull Jean against him, bare chest to bare chest, hearts both beating. He rests for a minute, just like that...]
[They get their outfits and undress. Eren stops between slacks and shirts to pull Jean against him, bare chest to bare chest, hearts both beating. He rests for a minute, just like that...]
[ Jean lets Eren tug them close, wrapping his arms around him. He closes his eyes, listening to Eren's heart beat against his own.
Eren is here. Eren is alive. For better or worse, he does his best to stay here. Despite all of Jean's fears and resentments, he's happy that Eren is here.
He exhales softly, his breath making Eren's hair flutter. ]
I love you.
[ It seems important to tell him, in this moment. ]
Eren is here. Eren is alive. For better or worse, he does his best to stay here. Despite all of Jean's fears and resentments, he's happy that Eren is here.
He exhales softly, his breath making Eren's hair flutter. ]
I love you.
[ It seems important to tell him, in this moment. ]
Edited 2025-01-08 04:05 (UTC)
he rolled high enough to catch one but not high enough for the BIG boy
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abandonhumanity
2025-01-08 06:52 am (UTC)(link)
[Eren hasn't even considered what his favor would be. He probably wouldn't ask for much more than that, but he'll take the time to think of something worthwhile...
[First he has to win. He casts his line out again, the bait thoroughly hooked in place this time.
[After a few minutes, a bite - this one much stronger than the last. Eren plants his feet and leans back, reeling in, and not without some difficulty. It's not that he isn't strong enough, but the fish is really fighting the line.
[Eren gives one finally pull, reeling with his full strength. A sizable catfish flops onto the shore. His eyes shoot up, surprised by its size. It isn't the monster fish, but it will make a nice meal...
[He looks to see whether Hythlodaeus has caught one too. Is this a victory or a draw?]
[First he has to win. He casts his line out again, the bait thoroughly hooked in place this time.
[After a few minutes, a bite - this one much stronger than the last. Eren plants his feet and leans back, reeling in, and not without some difficulty. It's not that he isn't strong enough, but the fish is really fighting the line.
[Eren gives one finally pull, reeling with his full strength. A sizable catfish flops onto the shore. His eyes shoot up, surprised by its size. It isn't the monster fish, but it will make a nice meal...
[He looks to see whether Hythlodaeus has caught one too. Is this a victory or a draw?]
[Hythlodaeus watches as Eren struggles with his catch, before-]
Ah! You did it!
[He grins, before feeling a tug on his own line. It's the fish he wasn't going to go for yet, in fact- and as soon as he pulls he realises he should have been standing for this. Not only that, but there's just enough tension on the line for it to snap as Hythlodaeus tries his best to not get dragged forward.
Getting to his feet, he dusts himself off and sighs.]
Goodness, I knew that it was large but the strength! Ah, I am lucky I did not fall into the water...
[He peers at his broken line.]
It seems to have swam away with my bait and hook, as well...
Ah! You did it!
[He grins, before feeling a tug on his own line. It's the fish he wasn't going to go for yet, in fact- and as soon as he pulls he realises he should have been standing for this. Not only that, but there's just enough tension on the line for it to snap as Hythlodaeus tries his best to not get dragged forward.
Getting to his feet, he dusts himself off and sighs.]
Goodness, I knew that it was large but the strength! Ah, I am lucky I did not fall into the water...
[He peers at his broken line.]
It seems to have swam away with my bait and hook, as well...
[Eren's cheek is pressed to the side of Jean's head. His husband's voice is only an inch from his ear. It makes his skin prickle. He pulls away and nips at Jean's lip, but it's far more affection than anything with heat. He takes a kiss afterward.]
I love you. [That's ever true.]
I love you. [That's ever true.]
[ Jean returns the kiss, soft and affectionate. The affection is what truly makes his heart thump a little harder; being touched just to touch each other, not in order to achieve anything. ]
My beautiful Eren.
[ No one owns Eren, but for today, for a little while - just his. ]
My beautiful Eren.
[ No one owns Eren, but for today, for a little while - just his. ]
[Victory. Boyfriend favor unlocked. Eren will be thinking about it all afternoon.
[He raises his eyebrows a bit at the snapped line, though, glancing out at the water.]
Do you think it was the big one? The one they're looking for?
[He raises his eyebrows a bit at the snapped line, though, glancing out at the water.]
Do you think it was the big one? The one they're looking for?
It was, aye.
[He watches the fish swim away, then shrugs. His bow appears in his hands.]
There is one way to make sure it can't get away. I will need you to hook it first, however... you are a far better fisher than I am!
[Hythlodaeus grins at his boyfriend.]
I believe you can do it. Once you have it on the hook, I will make sure it stays there.
[He watches the fish swim away, then shrugs. His bow appears in his hands.]
There is one way to make sure it can't get away. I will need you to hook it first, however... you are a far better fisher than I am!
[Hythlodaeus grins at his boyfriend.]
I believe you can do it. Once you have it on the hook, I will make sure it stays there.
[Some shiver flutters in Eren, but he doesn't shudder. The kisses are still chaste, even when pressed into the junction of Jean's neck and his shoulder. Eren is far from beautiful, but he wants Jean to think so. He wanted Mikasa to think so. He remembers the first time they saw his body for everything that it was, and his stomach flipped at their praise.
[Even if it's only by aesthetics, he'll allow Jean to think he's beautiful, and he'll allow Jean to have him. It's fallen from his lips a hundred times by now - I'm yours, I'm yours. Eren may truly belong to know one, but his heart belongs to many, and he wants Jean to carry his piece forever.
[Eren pulls away.]
Let's get dressed. We'll be out all day.
[Even if it's only by aesthetics, he'll allow Jean to think he's beautiful, and he'll allow Jean to have him. It's fallen from his lips a hundred times by now - I'm yours, I'm yours. Eren may truly belong to know one, but his heart belongs to many, and he wants Jean to carry his piece forever.
[Eren pulls away.]
Let's get dressed. We'll be out all day.
[Eren could never acknowledge what a sucker for praise he really is. He straightens up at it, firmly nodding.]
The quest description said that we might need special bait. I have some food from earlier...
[Some of those weird, fried seafood balls. He kind of forgot about them until now. Gross.
[He pulls one out and fastens it onto the end of his line. Then he reels out and casts. Other fish seem to swarm around the bobbing ball of breading, but, lo and behold, something massive swims up under them and hooks itself onto the line before the other fish get a chance.
[Eren starts reeling.]
Alright. Now or never, Hythlodaeus.
The quest description said that we might need special bait. I have some food from earlier...
[Some of those weird, fried seafood balls. He kind of forgot about them until now. Gross.
[He pulls one out and fastens it onto the end of his line. Then he reels out and casts. Other fish seem to swarm around the bobbing ball of breading, but, lo and behold, something massive swims up under them and hooks itself onto the line before the other fish get a chance.
[Eren starts reeling.]
Alright. Now or never, Hythlodaeus.
[Hythlodaeus shifts his sight to get a better look at where the fish is as Eren reels it in, and just as it begins to really pull at the line he fires. The arrow pierces it easily, and the fish stops moving- which gives Eren the chance to haul it up onto the shore, where Hythlodaeus kneels to observe the giant catch. The arrow disappears, leaving behind a clean hole through its head, and Hythlodaeus grins as he runs his fingers over the fish's scales.]
Goodness, look at the size of it! What a wonderful specimen. Somewhat plain, 'tis true, but sometimes even the ordinary can be extraordinary!
[At least now the smaller fish should be able to thrive again.]
A wonderful job, Eren! We make a good team, don't we?
Goodness, look at the size of it! What a wonderful specimen. Somewhat plain, 'tis true, but sometimes even the ordinary can be extraordinary!
[At least now the smaller fish should be able to thrive again.]
A wonderful job, Eren! We make a good team, don't we?
Don't wanna get too cold.
[ He lets go of Eren reluctantly, but with a smile. He pulls pieces of clothes out of the wardrobe; the outfit he described, and the similar outfit for Eren, with the looser, tucked-in shirt and the dark jacket that looks like Maruki's. There's a pattern of birds on the hem and up the back that matches the pattern on Jean's vest, coordinating them both.
Jean even twists Eren's hair up into a little bun, unless he insists on having it down. Either way, Eren looks good, and matches him as well. He grabs a bag to stuff some swimsuits and sandals for the hot springs, and then takes Eren's hand. ]
Ready to go?
[ If so, time to head to the portal, and the airships. ]
[ He lets go of Eren reluctantly, but with a smile. He pulls pieces of clothes out of the wardrobe; the outfit he described, and the similar outfit for Eren, with the looser, tucked-in shirt and the dark jacket that looks like Maruki's. There's a pattern of birds on the hem and up the back that matches the pattern on Jean's vest, coordinating them both.
Jean even twists Eren's hair up into a little bun, unless he insists on having it down. Either way, Eren looks good, and matches him as well. He grabs a bag to stuff some swimsuits and sandals for the hot springs, and then takes Eren's hand. ]
Ready to go?
[ If so, time to head to the portal, and the airships. ]
[Eren has to quite literally go to the water's edge and haul the beast ashore - not exactly difficult, but awkward. After that, he takes a few paces back, placing his hands on his hips and observing the behemoth.]
What do you think they're going to do with it? It shouldn't go to waste...
[Can they keep the fish? He wants to cook the fish.]
What do you think they're going to do with it? It shouldn't go to waste...
[Can they keep the fish? He wants to cook the fish.]
[To the airships, they go. Jean was right. It's entirely different seeing one up close under less dire circumstances. More than that, they're huge, with comfortable seats, standing room, and windows to observe from. There don't appear to be any massive hatches to leap out of for an enemy attack. That's nice, actually.
[Eren sticks close to Jean. He's been as quiet as ever, but he's not scowling quite so much as he normally might. Not that he looks any more friendly to strangers, but Jean can probably tell. He seems rather fixated on one of the seats near the back, right by one of the windows. He nods that way.]
[Eren sticks close to Jean. He's been as quiet as ever, but he's not scowling quite so much as he normally might. Not that he looks any more friendly to strangers, but Jean can probably tell. He seems rather fixated on one of the seats near the back, right by one of the windows. He nods that way.]
[ They're made for luxury, not attack; it means the design is completely unique to Jean as well. He openly marvels at some of the details as they move, but he keeps his footing sure.
Eren looks positively intrigued, by his standards, and when he nods to the back seat near the window, Jean obligingly leads them there. He lets Eren get in first so that he can be alongside the window, slipping in after him and tucking the back under their feet. ]
It'll be a couple hours, according to the attendants.
[ Long enough to enjoy it, not so long they'll have a chance to sleep. ]
Eren looks positively intrigued, by his standards, and when he nods to the back seat near the window, Jean obligingly leads them there. He lets Eren get in first so that he can be alongside the window, slipping in after him and tucking the back under their feet. ]
It'll be a couple hours, according to the attendants.
[ Long enough to enjoy it, not so long they'll have a chance to sleep. ]
They're taking us to a whole new place, then.
[At least, it seems that way to him. It may still be Lumindeas, but they'll be far, far away from the portal to Visium. It doesn't make him nervous, really. There's something else there. Eren never stopped wanting to see new things.]
The sky is taller here somehow.
[Birds can only fly to the tops of the trees in Visium, right? Or maybe it's only Dreamers that have to abide by those rules. These airships go meters and meters above the ground.]
[At least, it seems that way to him. It may still be Lumindeas, but they'll be far, far away from the portal to Visium. It doesn't make him nervous, really. There's something else there. Eren never stopped wanting to see new things.]
The sky is taller here somehow.
[Birds can only fly to the tops of the trees in Visium, right? Or maybe it's only Dreamers that have to abide by those rules. These airships go meters and meters above the ground.]
It feels like it's endless.
[ Especially now; Lumindeas' sky seems more open than Visium's. Indeed, from the window, Jean can spot Visium in the distance, and it looks miserable, surrounded by clouds and jutting shards of crystal.
He looks away to Eren, instead. ]
Yes, it's a location in the Crystal Spires. Apparently, there's hot springs tucked away in the mountains.
[ There's a brochure, if Eren wanted to peruse, advertising all the supposed benefits. ]
[ Especially now; Lumindeas' sky seems more open than Visium's. Indeed, from the window, Jean can spot Visium in the distance, and it looks miserable, surrounded by clouds and jutting shards of crystal.
He looks away to Eren, instead. ]
Yes, it's a location in the Crystal Spires. Apparently, there's hot springs tucked away in the mountains.
[ There's a brochure, if Eren wanted to peruse, advertising all the supposed benefits. ]
[He'd rather look out the window, and he does. He's lost in it for a little while. He's seen things from this height before, but it was so wildly different. He doesn't know how to feel. For a little while, he loses where he is entirely.
[Eventually, he seems to remember Jean is next to him, and glances back to look at him.]
Last winter, we went to a hot spring too. I remember. [As if just now.]
[Eventually, he seems to remember Jean is next to him, and glances back to look at him.]
Last winter, we went to a hot spring too. I remember. [As if just now.]
I'm not sure. Perhaps for our efforts, they will allow us to keep it?
[Something to wheel the monster home with would be nice, too. Hythlodaeus supposes he could conjure something up just to take it home with. What he creates is pretty much just a simple wheelbarrow of sorts- he's seen such contraptions on the farm.]
Here, help me get the fish in here. It will be easier to get it home this way.
[Something to wheel the monster home with would be nice, too. Hythlodaeus supposes he could conjure something up just to take it home with. What he creates is pretty much just a simple wheelbarrow of sorts- he's seen such contraptions on the farm.]
Here, help me get the fish in here. It will be easier to get it home this way.
[Regardless of what wayward whatever follows Maruki-]
We should. Having multiple safe rooms will be invaluable for us.
We don't know when this portal will close either. If we're on this side, having a place to meet up and form our next plan is a necessity.
We should. Having multiple safe rooms will be invaluable for us.
We don't know when this portal will close either. If we're on this side, having a place to meet up and form our next plan is a necessity.
[. . .]
Let's pick out a nice place, then.
Let's pick out a nice place, then.
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